Egyptian art / wall relief sculpture of Maat the Goddess of truth, justice, balance and harmony. Egyptian mythology.

Maat relief plaque

Dimensions:-

29.5 cm x 13.5 cm / 11-3/4 x 5-1/4 inches

On offer here for the first time is an exclusive format wall relief replica of the goddess Maat, the Goddess of truth, justice, harmony and balance.

Made of a limestone and quartzite composition stone it has been painted in traditional Egyptian colours with my finest brush.

Of 21st dynasty design, it is an unusual depiction of the goddess. The sun disc on her head signifies she is one of the daughters of the sun god but she is iconic for wearing a feather of truth in her headband where the disc now rests.
In this representation she is still in possession of her identifying symbols as she holds a pair of feathers in each hand within the framework of fully unfurled wings. This pose was usually reserved for the sky goddess Nut or Isis in amulets and imagery painted or carved into coffins where the wings were seen as protection. A shield against calamity in the afterlife.

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Background information


Ma'at or Mayet as I first came to know her name, was an Egyptian goddess who represented universal world order, harmony and balance. Also known as a goddess of truth and justice in her role as decipherer of the human heart.
The Egyptians strived to live in a 'state of Maat'. A world in harmony devoid of chaos.

Each morning when the priests opened the shrines of the gods, they would present a little statue of Maat unto them to show that the world remained in order after the passage of Ra through the twelve gates of night.

Maat's role in the afterlife - In the hall of judgement that one had to enter before entering a blissful afterlife, a typical scene saw the deceased being led by Anubis to a set of scales that were directly in front of a seated Osiris who was the god presiding over the underworld. The scales were used to weigh the spiritual heart of the deceased to see if it had been 'true of voice' and a good heart, taking into consideration all of lifes challenges.

The heart was weighed against Maat's feather of truth which she would pluck from her headband {see the carving} and place on the scale. Thoth, the scribal god was also present in such scenes and once he had tallied the result and your heart rang true you would pass to the sacred gardens of the afterlife. If you failed the god Ammit, the devourer of souls would eat yours. Game over.