Despite her permanent head decoration of an ostrich feather, she is far from a feather brain. She is a deity of cosmic order, and the feather, which is always divided in equal halves, is also her symbol of ‘that which is straight’.

She is heavily involved in the judgment of the dead along with Osiris and Thoth. With a permanent staff of forty-two assessors, Maat has her own system of weighing souls.

A single feather is placed on the scales of justice. The ghostly heart of your Ka (i.e. soul) is placed on the balance and various spiritual tests are performed. Will it rise or fall? If your Ka’s heart is lighter than a feather, you can look forward to a cheerful afterlife. But if it sinks below the threshold, Ammit emerges from under the table and slurps you up. At least it’s a quick end.

Maat is a firm favorite aboard the Solar Boats of Ra, and can hold her own with Thoth in any technical discussion. Kings adored her and she was always invited to coronations and royal parties as a welcome and respected guest.

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Article last revised on August 22, 2018 by Rowan Allen.
Editors: Peter J. Allen, Chas Saunders

References: Coming soon.

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