Maat << mah AHT >>, also spelled Ma’at, is the personification of justice and truth in the mythology of ancient Egypt. Maat is present with the gods Thoth and Anubis as they weigh the hearts of the dead on the scales of justice in the underworld. Maat also personifies rightness, harmony, and order. Her name does not have an exact English translation, but is often translated as truth. In art, Maat is shown as a goddess with an ostrich feather on her head.
Maat embodied a belief in the underlying harmony upon which the universe was founded. In myth, she is described as a daughter of the sun god Re (also known as Ra). She appears with him when he arises from the watery chaos each morning. Her influence prevents chaos from taking over.
In the earliest descriptions, Maat is associated with predictable patterns in nature. These patterns include the daily sunrise and sunset, the changing positions of the constellations at night, the annual cycle of flood and dry seasons, and the human life cycle from birth to death. She also encourages justice, respect for tradition, and ethical principles. While she supports ethical behavior, she transcends (exists beyond) ethics and morality. Much like natural creatures and objects, Maat simply exists and cannot be classified as good or bad.
The pharaohs (supreme rulers) of ancient Egypt were expected to uphold the concept of Maat in every official action. The Egyptian court system was seen as an institution through which Maat manifested herself in the human world. Some scholars believe that certain court officials in ancient Egypt were considered priests of Maat.
