Acquaint yourself with the ancient Egyptian ‘Maat’ sign

CAIRO – 6 September 2022: Used in ancient Egyptian texts in several ways, this sign represents the feather of an ostrich. 

It can be pronounced as “Shu” which means “air” and can be pronounced as “Maa” expressing “moderation”, or combined with other signs to express different meanings. 

 

The sign has gained special popularity because it expresses the word "Maat", a symbol of truth, justice, and order in ancient Egypt. 

The ancient Egyptians personified Maat in the form of a goddess portrayed as a woman with the Maat feather on her head. 

This example is taken from the “weighing of the heart” ceremony from the Papyrus of Khonsu.