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 maat.gif"Symbols: ostrich feather, scales Ma'at was the goddess of the physical and moral law of Egypt, of order and truth. She was present at the judgement of the dead Maat was tall woman with an ostrich feather in her hair. She is the wife of Thoth and had eight children with him. The most important of her children was Amon. These eight were the chief gods Hermopolis and priests there, they created the earth and all that is in it.
She was associated with Thoth, Ptah and Khnemu in the Egyptian Creation.
The Hall of Maat is where the judgement of the dead was performed. ; her feather was balanced against the heart of the deceased to determine whether he had led a pure and honest life. This was done by weighing one's heart (conscience) against the feather of Maat (truth and justice). Here we see Anubis leading Hunefer to the scales of Maat. Anubis weights Hunefer's heart against the feather to see if he is worthy of joining the gods in the Fields of Peace.
When the dead were judged, the feather of Ma'at was weighed against
their hearts. If hearts of the deceased are as "light as a feather",
they were granted eternal life in the Duat. The near-weightlessness of
their hearts indicated that their souls were not burdened with sin and
evil.
Having passed this test the soul is lead by Horus to meet the King of the
dead, Osiris.
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