ࡱ> 796a " jbjbtt $."hltzzzz{,uRr h hh5"hhT6T26hhhh z"K0{99l  Leah Houston Monday September 29, 2008 Museum Paper Goddess Mat The Goddess Mat: Her Importance Influence in Egyptian Culture When civilization first began, religion and spiritual beliefs were heavily important in understanding how the world functioned. Weather, prosperity, disease all aspects of everyday life were explained through a higher belief. Similar to most ancient cultures, Egyptians turned to a series of gods for an explanation or understanding of the universe. While there were a vast amount of gods and goddesses in Ancient Egypt, very few have withstood the test of time and carried on as common knowledge. Of the most well known there are Horus, the falcon god, Amon-Re of wind and fertility, Isis the goddess magic, and Anubis, the god of death. While many believe that these gods were the most important to Ancient Egypt, there is one that was a primary deity that needs to be discussed. The goddess Mat symbolized truth and order; however, her power surpassed that of many of the other gods, being the daughter of the sun god Re. From regulating the seasons to balancing the universe, her abilities were limitless. However, to what extent was she involved in Egyptian culture? Was she deity thats mere existence influenced the daily actions and decisions of the people? In order to discover her importance in Egyptian society, it is necessary to examine Mat as a goddess. As a goddess, Mat was both respected and feared. While she represented the concept of truth and order, her meaning goes much deeper than just maintaining order in the universe. She was believed to have not only been a goddess of morality, but she was the one who kept the universe in balance. However, her place as a goddess was also very abstract. It was her mere existence that kept the order of the universe. Egyptians believed the world was a rational and balanced place that kept a regular cycle and that any disregard for morality would be punished. The order of the stars, the changing of the seasons, the rising and the setting of the sun Egyptian life was dependent on this goddess. She had a divine power that influenced the masses, for agriculture, weather, and prosperity or lack thereof was her punishment for not following her teachings. Furthermore, she had the ability to control not only the actions of mortals but the actions of the gods as well. She kept balance in the universe, for both gods and humans, thus her significance gave her higher power over all. Portrayed as a young woman in her teens, she is associated with wings and an ostrich feather and is usually depicted sitting down, as in the tiny statue found in the Rhode Island School of Design Museum. In this nine-inch statuette made from Bronze, the goddess Mat is shown in a seated position upon an altar, wearing a long dress that is molded into the altar. Although the wings are not depicted, she is wearing a tall ostrich feather on her head, nearly a quarter of the entire statue. On the altar, each side is decorated with a picture illustrating some form of order or balance. On one side, there are two men symmetrically holding an object of some sort, their body positions representing the symmetry and balance found within the universe. For what reason is she sitting on an altar? In order to answer this question, one must investigate the goddess most important positions in Egyptian mythology. Throughout an Ancient Egyptians life he focuses on following the words and morals of the gods in order to reach Aaru, or the Egyptian equivalent of heaven. When one died, his soul (which was believed to be the heart) was sent to Duat, similar to the Christian Purgatory. There, the heart would be weighed against Mats feather in the presence of Anubis. Thus, she is always depicted with her feather because it was such an essential part of Egypt mythology. As for the altar, she was seen as a religious figure, being a deciding factor whether or not one was to cross over into Aaru. Mats main concepts, truth and balance are references to the balance of truth one goes through during the weighing of the heart. She was not only the spiritual balance within the universe, but she also controlled the literal balance between the feather and the heart the key into heaven. While her position in religion was extremely influential to Egyptians to follow her teachings of truth and order, her power didnt stop at the religious or moral influence. As many findings on tomb walls show, several Pharaohs throughout the Old Kingdom all the way to Late Period were shown as making decisions for Egypt as a whole based on Mats morals. Without the existence of this goddess, Egyptians believed that the universe would not exist the sun wouldnt rise and the universe would turn to chaos. Thus, in order to please the gods and prevent earth from approaching an apocalypse, Pharaohs would encourage truth and justice throughout Egypt and would abide by these laws. Goddess Mats influence stretched throughout the realms of religion, morality, and spirituality, from the littlest peasant to the Pharaoh himself, preaching truth and order. Her symbolism as balance and truth was more than just an idea in Ancient Egypt, but a deity that controlled the order of the universe. Every aspect of ones life was controlled by this goddess, thus giving her a superior power and influence over any other. From controlling the stars and the sun, bringing morality and justice to Egypt, and being a deciding factor in ones attainment of Aaru, this goddess had an prominent and respected impact in Ancient Egypt. Works Cited Hooker, Richard; 1996. Mat Goddess of Truth; Truth and Order. Available: http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/EGYPT/MAAT.HTM Jackson, Ronald L. and Elaine B. Richardson; 2003. Understanding African American Rhetoric. New York: Taylor & Francis Group. Seawright, Caroline; 1996. Mat, Goddess of Truth, Balance, Order Available: http://www.touregypt.net/godsofegypt/maat2.htm  Hooker, Richard; 1996. Mat Goddess of Truth; Truth and Order. Available: http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/EGYPT/MAAT.HTM  Jackson, Ronald L. and Elaine B. Richardson; 2003. Understanding African American Rhetoric. New York: Taylor & Francis Group.  Seawright, Caroline; 1996. Mat, Goddess of Truth, Balance, Order Available: http://www.touregypt.net/godsofegypt/maat2.htm  Hooker, Richard; 1996. Mat Goddess of Truth; Truth and Order. Available: http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/EGYPT/MAAT.HTM  Seawright, Caroline; 1996. Mat, Goddess of Truth, Balance, Order Available: http://www.touregypt.net/godsofegypt/maat2.htm B| } =c;dNny"#$%<b}vljhqUy0JU hqUyhqUyhqUyhqUyCJhqUyhqUy6CJhqUyhqUyhqUy6CJOJQJhqUyhqUyCJOJQJjhqUyhqUy0JCJUhqUyhqUy6OJQJ!jhqUyhqUy0JOJQJUjhqUyhqUy0JUhqUyhqUyCJOJQJhqUyhqUyOJQJ* '4AB c&sf d`gdqUydgdqUy ! n"#r  ! " `gdqUygdqUydgdqUy ! " hqUyhqUyOJQJhqUyhqUy6CJOJQJhqUyhqUyCJOJQJhqUyjhqUy0JU":pqUy/ =!"#$%<@< NormalCJaJmH sH tH DA@D Default Paragraph FontRi@R  Table Normal4 l4a (k@(No List6@6 qUy Footnote Text@&@@ qUyFootnote ReferenceH*>'@> qUyComment ReferenceCJ4@"4 qUy Comment Text:j@!": qUyComment SubjectD@BD qUy Balloon TextCJOJQJaJ| "w~w~"". !z!z!z!z z "sY '4ABc &sfn"#r #0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0@0@0p@0@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@@0p@@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@0p@@0p@0p@0p@@0p@0p@00 '4ABc &sn"#r#0I8o0I8o0I8o0I8o0I8o0I8o0I8o0I8o0I8o0I8o0I8o0I8o0I8o0I8o0I8o0I8o0I8o0I8o0I8o0I8o0I8o@ 0 0I8o0I8o0I8o0QR  @ 0 0I8ou1$ v0I8o0I8o0I8ou1 @ 0 0I8o60lr0I8o0I8o 0@kS" " !  # #@2ka" @UnknownGTimes New Roman5Symbol3 ArialCА+@Lucida Grande hg9&+F2: &~4db@Z Leah Houston Leah Houston Leah Houston Oh+'0  0 < HT\dlt' Leah Houstonon@ Leah Houstonon@Normal Leah Houstonon43@Microsoft Word 11.2@$e @V%!@^!2:GPICTb HHb bHH bb          wsws% cRJRRcRV^g9ZR.so{skZskZkZkZ=VNsRRJR^^NsRJRVg9RRg9^Z^ZZRso{kZw' VNs^RVVg9g9F1RRg9!o{wssso{s#^R^^Vg9JRJRg9     co{kZsss{{kZkZ{ssss{s{{{s{s{o{w{{wg9w{sw{kZwkZ{;g9JRF1ZcJRBBF1JRJRNs^==cwZ5cg9JRg9F15c=JRRF1g9JRg9=F1JRRF1=JR=VF1c1JR^wJRRJRcF1wkZsw  ckZsswkZwswso{ws wwsso{sso{{^^RcRkZVJRZZRkZZ^g9RJRRg9F1RJRRR^RZZVJRkZRRkZRkZ^VNsg9RJR^kZ^  UwwsswssswskZssw Nsg9RZg9g9Bg9kZRVRg9^g9JRRRJRRRZVsg9RRVVg9kZRkZVRcZZR^F1JRg9RRg9Rg9F1F1g9kZg9^   ]swssso{sswss sswsso{sR%JR^RsJRkZJR^RRcg9^ZkZR^Rg9^RJR^kZkZRVNsJRRZRF1kZR JRg9ZVRRJRRkZRg9RRkZRkZ  KkZwo{wskZwwswsss>^Nsg9kZJRg9g9ZVg9Z^g9JRRcJRRg9cVZVg9R^ZNs^RZJRR^g9VJRRRg9ZJR^RZR^ZkZRZR^kZZg9JRR   KswsswsswkZsso{ss RZRF1RJRg9RRZg9VR3g9^g9JRRRJRRZkZg9RRF1kZ^Rg9^R^^RkZRg9RRg9RVNsg9RJRB^g9JRVg9ZVRg9R  asssswo{wkZwsswsssswRZR^JRRZR4^^R^JRZNsckZRRg9ZNs^Rg9^Rg9^kZF1sRJR^RVcg9R^g9ZF1g9RRJR^g9ZkZg9Nsg9R  Kswsssso{o{sssswsJRRRcJRg9JRRZRJR^cZVg9VNsRZRZVcR"ckZg9RRVg9Z^g9VNskZZRZVNsg9RJRRJRg9RcRg9V^   isssso{kZwswssskZwwsssws*g9RRkZBZRRZRZRg9ZRcNsZkZVJRRJRRRkZRJRg9g9^o{^Rg9RZR ^^Vg9JRRkZcJRRR  _o{swssssskZsso{so{ssssZNsVRkZ^g9R5ZRZkZRRJRg9R^^RkZRVg9JRR^RRJR^Rg9RJRg9g9RF1RRZR^VNsg9Rg9RRVg9Z^g9   Wwo{wkZwswswswsss:Nsg9RZg9g9Bg9g9ZZNscJRRg9ZNs^Rg9g9RRg9RRZRRg9RJRNsF1^JRRg9Nsg9JRg9^RRZ^g9RJRJRR^NsRR  aswsg9o{ssso{sso{ssssssRRcV^^RRkZRRRZR/^^Vg9JRJRg9^^Vg9RZkZVRRg9Nsg9RJRRRNsRRg9RZVNs^Rg9RRg9RZVsRg9   ]sssssssswsssssskZw)^Vg9RJR^^RRg9RJRg9ZkZVg9JRR^ZkZg9RRZg9RRg9RZR^RRJRRg9RJRVRRg9Rg9ZkZJRR^VRRZRcNs  MkZswssswswsskZwP!:1Table9WordDocument$.SummaryInformation("@DocumentSummaryInformation8.CompObjX FMicrosoft Word DocumentNB6WWord.Document.8