Ancient Egyptian Principles of Maat: 42 Powerful Laws of Truth and Justice
Goddess Maat
The Maat Principles were the moral and cosmic basis of one of the greatest civilizations in history, the Ancient Egyptian one. Not only a combination of rules, but Maat was a symbol of the divine order of the universe, being truth, justice, and harmony. These ideals guided all the people of the land including the poor farmer and the powerful Pharaoh to ensure that the world was stable and their souls were worth the afterlife.
What Are the Ancient Egyptian Principles of Maat?
Ancient Egyptian Principles of Maat
We tend to regard law, religion and science as separate boxes in the modern world yet to the Nile people, they were all components of one reality. The Maat Principles of Ancient Egypt provided a comprehensive guideline for living a good life in harmony with the universe. Maat was a concept and a goddess, embodied in the person of a woman in a single ostrich feather on her head.
She was the embodiment of the opposite of chaos, or Isfet. The sun would not rise; the river would not flood to provide food; society would fall into ruins without the constant presence of Maat. It was the made cement that united the physical and spiritual world, directing human activity toward kindness, honesty, and social order. Being a citizen meant to do Maat which was the paramount aim of any citizen because it implied that a person was performing an action that enabled the entire cosmos to operate properly.
History of the Ancient Egyptian Principles of Maat and Their Origins
Unas Pyramiden textes
The roots of the Ancient Egyptian Principles of Maat go back to the very beginning of the Old Kingdom. The first time Maat is referred to is in the Pyramid Texts in the tomb of King Unas, dating back to about 2400 BCE. In this early era, Maat was regarded as the necessary power which the creator god employed in order to bring order to the watery chaos of the universe.
These notions were codified and extended as the centuries went by. These principles were eventually taught to students and officials, and literature termed the Wisdom Texts began to be taught during the Middle Kingdom. Subsequently, in the New Kingdom (c. 1550 BCE), the 42 Laws of Maat came to occupy a prominent place in the Book of the Dead. This implies that the principle values of Maat were observed and honored for more than 2,000 years and this is one of the longest ethical systems in the history of humanity. Through all empires that rise and fall, the dedication to balance was the unchanging factor that made one Egyptian.
Who Wrote the 42 Laws of Maat?
Maat Goddess of Justice
In contrast to modern legislation, which a given king or a parliament drafts, no individual is supposed to have drafted the 42 Laws of Maat. Rather they were perceived to be divine truths that existed since the time of creation. The Temple Scribes and high-ranking officials such as the Vizier recorded and maintained them.
These scribes were extremely learned bureaucrats who had spent years learning the Divine Words. The laws were placed in funeral documents such as the Papyrus of Ani. The scribes felt that they were not actually making these rules but that they were merely reflections of the natural law of the universe on paper. They taught that writing with truth was the highest form of worship, ensuring that the Ancient Egyptian Principles of Maat stayed pure from one generation to the next.
The Role of the Vizier in Applying the Principles of Maat
The Vizier (the greatest person in the Egyptian government) was important in the maintenance of the Ancient Egyptian Principles of Maat. The Vizier was commonly referred to as the Priest of Maat. The Vizier was instructed on assuming office that he should be impartial, listen to both the poor and the rich and never show favoritism.
The Vizier used to report to the Pharaoh every morning and they would discuss whether the land was in a state of Maat or not. In case of any border conflict or even a crime, the Vizier was to bring order back. This demonstrates that the Principles of Maat, as practiced by the Ancient Egyptian were not religious concepts but the real rules of governing a government. The Vizier had a small gold statue of the goddess Maat around his neck to accomplish this and remind everyone that his judgments were founded on the divine truth.
The 42 Ancient Egyptian Principles of Maat in Order
The 42 Ancient Egyptian Principles of Maat
When a soul entered the Hall of Truth, it had to declare its innocence before 42 divine judges, each representing a different region of Egypt. These are known as the “Negative Confessions.” Here are the Ancient Egyptian Principles of Maat in order as they appeared in the Papyrus of Ani:
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I have not committed sin.
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I have not committed robbery with violence.
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I have not stolen.
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I have not slain men or women.
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I have not stolen grain.
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I have not purloined offerings.
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I have not stolen the property of God.
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I have not uttered lies.
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I have not carried away food.
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I have not uttered curses.
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I have not committed adultery.
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I have not made anyone weep.
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I have not eaten the heart (felt unnecessary regret/guilt).
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I have not attacked any man.
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I have not been deceitful.
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I have not stolen cultivated land.
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I have not been an eavesdropper.
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I have not slandered anyone.
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I have not been angry without cause.
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I have not debauched the wife of any man.
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I have not debauched the wife of any man (repeated for emphasis).
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I have not polluted myself.
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I have not terrorized anyone.
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I have not transgressed the Law.
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I have not been wroth (angry).
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I have not shut my ears to the words of truth.
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I have not blasphemed.
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I have not been a man of violence.
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I have not been a stirrer up of strife.
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I have not acted with undue haste.t
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I have not pried into matters.
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I have not multiplied my words in speaking.
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I have not wronged anyone, I have done no evil.
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I have not worked witchcraft against the King.
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I have not stopped a flow of water.
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I have not raised my voice (spoken arrogantly).
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I have not cursed God.
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I have not acted with arrogance.
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I have not stolen the bread of the gods.
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I have not carried away the khenfu cakes from the spirits of the dead.
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I have not snatched away the bread of the child.
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I have not slaughtered with evil intent the cattle of the gods.
The modern re-writing of the 42 Ideals of Ma’at.
- I honor virtue
- I benefit with gratitude
- I am peaceful
- I respect the property of others
- I affirm that all life is sacred
- I give offerings that are genuine
- I live in truth
- I regard all altars with respect
- I speak with sincerity
- I consume only my fair share
- I offer words of good intent
- I relate in peace
- I honor animals with reverence
- I can be trusted
- I care for the earth
- I keep my own council
- I speak positively of others
- I remain in balance with my emotions
- I am trustful in my relationships
- I hold purity in high esteem
- I spread joy
- I do the best I can
- I communicate with compassion
- I listen to opposing opinions
- I create harmony
- I invoke laughter
- I am open to love in various forms
- I am forgiving
- I am kind
- I act respectfully
- I am accepting
- I follow my inner guidance
- I converse with awareness
- I do good
- I give blessings
- I keep the waters pure
- I speak with good intent
- I praise the Goddess and the God
- I am humble
- I achieve with integrity
- I advance through my own abilities
- I embrace the All
Understanding the Categories of the 42 Laws of Maat
In order to really appreciate the Ancient Egyptian Principles of Maat, we can divide these 42 laws into categories.
- Social Justice: The laws that forbade stealing, killing and adultery guaranteed that families and neighbors would coexist peacefully.
- Economic Honesty: Laws on the theft of grain or cultivated land played an important role in an agricultural society. Cheating on land boundaries was regarded as a significant sin against the Ancient Egyptian Principles of Maat.
- Environmental Ethics: Surprisingly, there are a number of laws regarding nature. Leaving a stream of water or not contaminating the river demonstrates that the Egyptians considered that a respectful attitude towards nature was a moral responsibility.
Personal Character: Laws that forbade anger when angry without reason, meddling in other people’s affairs or talking too much were to keep a quiet, gracious personality.
42 Laws of Maat vs. 10 Commandments
It is interesting to many that the Ancient Egyptian Principles of Maat would be compared with the 10 Commandments in the Bible. Although their aims are similar to maintain peace and order, some important differences exist concerning their style and scope.
- Negative vs. Positive: The 42 Laws are Negative Confessions (I have not), which means that the soul is innocent in the first place. The 10 Commandments can be regarded as Positive Orders (Thou shalt or shalt not) provided to a group of people.
- The Scope of Responsibility: The 10 Commandments are concerned with essential religious and social obligations. The Ancient Egyptian Principles of Maat extend way beyond that, to include environmental concerns and even the extent of talking you do or whether you make someone cry.
- The Concept of Sin: In the Commandments, violation of a rule commits a crime against a personal God. According to the Principles of Maat of ancient Egypt, a rule violation is failure to be in harmony with the physics of the universe. It was regarded as an act of ignorance which struck more at the heart of the individual than it did at a deity.
The Weighing of the Heart: Judgment in Ancient Egyptian Beliefs
Ancient Egyptian Principles of Maat-The Weighing of the Heart
The best-known incidence that involved the Ancient Egyptian Principles of Maat occurred in the Hall of Truth when a person died. This was the test of all human souls. The heart of the dead containing the deeds and character of their lives was fixed on a golden scale. The Ostrich Feather of Maat was on the opposite end of the scale.
When the heart was as light as a feather, it was the sign that the person lived a balanced life and adhered to the postulates of the Maat faith of Ancient Egypt. The soul was then taken to the god Horus to welcome Osiris and enter the “Field of Reeds”, which was a beautiful form of Egypt where no pain or hunger existed. But when the heart was burdened with sin and greed and disorder, it would be devoured by Ammit, a vampire whose head was that of a crocodile and whose body was that of a lion and a hippo. This implied that the individual was killed a second time and his/her soul no longer existed eternally.
The Role of the Pharaoh in Upholding Maat
The Pharaoh was not only a political leader, but also the major protector of the Ancient Egyptian Principles of Maat. His responsibility was to make sure that the temples remained in good condition, the borders were secured and the laws were just. In most of the carvings at the temples, one can find the Pharaoh giving a small statue of the goddess Maat to the rest of the gods.
This was to symbolically say, I have put the world in balance. When a king did not follow the Principles of Maat that had existed in Ancient Egypt, the gods were likely to withhold their help and the result was famine, floods or civil war. Hence, the survival of the whole country depended on whether the king could live according to these divine rules. Even a Pharaoh would later have to undergo the scales in the afterlife which meant that he had to be keen to be just in his rule.
Maat and the Egyptian Concept of “Isfet”
In order to learn about the Ancient Egyptian Principles of Maat, you have to learn about its adversary: Isfet. Whereas Maat represented order, truth, and light, Isfet represented chaos, lies and darkness. The Egyptians held the belief that the world was under a continuous battle between the two forces. Every human had the responsibility of resisting Isfet through the practice of Maat. This conflict was perceived in the sun rising (Maat) and the darkness of night (possible Isfet) every day. Adhering to the Ancient Egyptian Principles of Maat, people were literally assisting the gods in holding the universe together.
8 The Ancient Egyptian Principles of Maat Facts
- Maat is usually shown having wings to show that she can access all corners of the universe.
- The reason behind the ostrich feather is that it is a perfectly symmetrical feather, which signifies balance.
- All Egyptians irrespective of their status were to abide by the 42 confessions.
- The Maat idea also had a later impact on the legal systems of the Greeks and the Romans.
- Egyptian mythology Thoth (the god of wisdom) was the husband of Maat.
- Among the oldest books in the world teaching Maat is the “Instructions of Ptahhotep.
- Egyptian scribes were instructed that nothing was greater in worship than to write the truth.
- The prize of the heart that would be perfectly balanced before Maat was the Field of Reeds.
Conclusion
The Egyptian Principles of Maat teach us that even a successful society is not based only on financial or political strength. It is founded on the premise of truth, justice and the notion that each person has a duty to do what is good in general. The ancient Egyptians lived a balanced life and thus they established a life lasting a thousand years and which to date inspires us.
The pursuit of “Maat” is a common human feature whether we are in the courtroom, at the workplace or in our own personal relationships. The mere thought that we not only help ourselves when we do things in truth and justice, but we also balance the whole world. These principles continue to exist in the heritage of any contemporary legal system that cherishes equality and a moral system that cherishes the truth.
