Feather of Maat

Feather of Maat is a feather from an ostrich, representing a significant concept in the ancient Egyptian afterlife beliefs. It symbolizes Maat’s judgment of the deceased, weighing the heart of the deceased against the feather to determine their righteousness in life. If the feather outweighs the heart, the deceased is deemed virtuous and enters paradise. If the heart is heavier, it leads to the destruction and torment by a mythical creature called Ammut, which has the head of a crocodile, the body of a lion, and the hindquarters of a hippopotamus.
Historical Mention
In the Book of the Dead of ancient Egypt, the judgment of the deceased in the afterlife is described. The heart of the deceased is placed on one side of a scale and the Feather of Maat on the other side. If the feather outweighs the heart, the deceased enters paradise. If the heart is heavier, the soul is destroyed and tormented by Ammut, the devouring monster.
Day of Judgment
The ancient Egyptians depicted the Day of Judgment with Anubis escorting the deceased to the Hall of Judgment, where the judges question the deceased about their actions on earth, whether they followed Maat (the righteous path) or were guilty. The deceased defends themselves, stating: "I have not killed anyone, I have not slandered anyone, I have not stolen, I have given food to the hungry, clothing to the naked, helped the orphans and widows, and given water to the thirsty." The judges then question the deceased about their knowledge of the gods, and the deceased must list the gods' names, being careful not to forget any. The Book of the Dead was placed with the deceased in the tomb to assist with remembering the names of the important gods. Then comes the time of resurrection, where Anubis takes the deceased for the weighing of the heart against the Feather of Maat. If they pass, they are called "True of Voice" and are forgiven. Their heart is placed back in their embalmed body, and they are dressed in white garments and enter the afterlife. If they fail and their heart is heavy on the scale, they are consumed by Ammut, marking the final fate of the deceased.
The Law
There are few writings left that describe the practice of ancient Egyptian law. Maat was more of the spirit by which justice was applied rather than a detailed legal code. Maat represented the basic and essential values that formed the backdrop for justice, to be executed in the spirit of truth and fairness. From the Fifth Dynasty (2510 - 2370 BCE) onward, the minister responsible for justice was called the Priest of Maat, and later, judges wore representations of Maat.
Later scholars and philosophers also embodied concepts from Sapiat teachings, a form of Egyptian wisdom literature. These spiritual texts were related to common social or professional situations and offered advice on how to handle them in the spirit of Maat. The advice was very practical and often based on individual circumstances, making it difficult to derive specific general rules.
Justice in Ancient Egypt
In ancient Egypt, justice was considered the right, and the word Maat symbolized truth, justice, and righteousness. This concept mirrors some aspects of Islamic justice, as the Quran mentions, "That is because Allah is the Truth, and He gives life to the dead, and He is capable of everything."
The laws of Maat were 42 confessions recited by the deceased during their trial in the Underworld, where they had to be truthful in order to avoid punishment. These laws represent the deep ethical guidelines in Ancient Egyptian religion and social life. The religious ethical system stemmed from the teachings of Maat and its continuous presence in the balance of moral order. Thoth also played a role, as well as the warnings given by the wise and the Book of the Dead that cautioned against demons and evil spirits.
As an example, righteousness and justice were often symbolized by a scale. This is the first recorded use of these words in such meanings, comparing parts of the scale to parts of the human body, such as the lips, heart, mind, and consciousness, in order to seek truth and uphold justice. This concept was later expressed by the Abrahamic religions and indicates the maturity of the Egyptian mind in terms of moral and behavioral values in life and their expression.

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