Maat is the goddess of truth, law and order. She is the personification of justice and is the consort of Thoth. Pharoahs took the title ‘Beloved of Maat’ to show that their priority was to uphold the law. She was widely worshipped by peasants and nobles alike. Some ancient paintings even show other deities praising her.
Maat played an important role in the judging of the dead. Her feather would be used to weigh the deceased person’s heart. If the feather outweighed the heart, showing the person was wicked, the person’s soul would be fed to the demon Ammit. However, if the heart outweighed the feather, the person was honourable and would join Osiris in the Afterlife.
