Difference between revisions of "Admonitions of Ma'at"

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The Admonitions of Ma'at are 42 rules, similar in form but far predating the Ten Commandments. They dictate how a person is to live a balanced life. A person following these tenets is said to have "Lived Ma'at." When a person dies, their heart is weighed against the ostrich feather of the goddess Ma'at, determining whether they may travel to the afterlife or not.

The Goddess

The goddess Ma'at

Some say that Ma'at, whose name means "truth" in Egyptian, is less a goddess and more a concept for ancient Egypt. Whether she was actually a deity, or merely a way of living one's life, it is clear that she held a vast amount of power and influence in those times. Regarded as the personification of truth, order, balance and justice, she was the foundation for all that was right and all that existed. Some Egyptians even believed that without Ma'at, the very universe could descend into chaos.

Egyptians believed that the universe was structured and ordered at its base, and thus they felt that Ma'at was the one responsible. Ma'at was seen to be in charge of regulating all things, from the sun and stars to the seasons to the actions of mortal and deity alike. In this way, she was above all other deities, even Ra. It is believed that Ma'at came into being at the moment of creation, and thus had no progenitor save for the universe itself.

Beyond keeping everything that is, was and will be in balance, Ma'at's other duty is to be the gatekeeper to the afterlife. When a person dies, the find themselves on steps before Ma'at and the lion goddess Ammit. Beside Ma'at is a scale, upon which the heart of the deceased is placed, and it is measured against the Shu Feather of Ma'at. The Shu Feather, or Ostrich feather acts as a counter balance. If a person has lived according to Ma'at, meaning that they have lived a balanced and just life, then their heart will be as light as the feather. Achieving this would grant them access to Aaru, the Egyptian afterlife. Should their heart be heavy with the sins of their life, then it would outweigh the feather, and the heart, and thus the soul of the person would be consumed by Ammit.

Ma'at as a goddess is often depicted as a woman with a single feather sticking out of a headband, with winged arms stretched beside her. Sometimes she is shown also having a scepter in one hand.

The 42 Admonitions

Long before the Ten Commandments, the Ancient Egyptian Developed the highest and most sophisticated cosmic law until our modern times. The Egyptian commandments included Rape and Forced Sex and harming Beasts and animals and much more. The 42 commandments, or Admonitions were split up into 3 classifications of sins: Transgressions against Mankind, sins against God/s and personal transgressions.

When Transgressions were against Mankind, the punishment fitted the crime. Egypt was relatively crime free. Crime was mainly as a result of barbaric immigrants. The death penalty was seldom used, and then only under unusual circumstances. Periods as long as 150 years went by without a single execution. The punishment for sins against God/s was banishment from the religion including banishment from the community where the God was worshiped. Depending on the God against whom the sin was committed this could cause banishment from Egypt. The Judgment of, and subsequent punishment for, Personal Transgressions was in the hands of the Gods and took place after death during the judgment of Ma'at, when the person's heart was weighed against her feather, determining if they lived Ma'at or not.

These are the actual Admonitions of Ma'at (translated to English) as appear in the Book of the Dead, 1. and 7. have been changed slightly for roleplay reasons, the changes are in italics.

Transgressions Against Mankind I have not committed murder, neither have I bid any man to slay on my behalf unless to serve the wheel, and preserve the balance of the scales. I have not committed rape, neither have I forced any woman to commit fornication I have not avenged myself, nor have I burned with rage I have not caused terror, nor have I worked affliction I have caused none to feel pain, nor have I worked grief I have done neither harm nor ill, nor I have caused misery I have done no hurt to man, nor have I wrought harm to beasts, the deaths i bring for Ma'at will be swift and uncruel I have made none to weep I guard the knowledge of evil, with it have I not acted wickedly, nor have I wronged the people I have not stolen, neither have I taken that which does not belong to me, nor that which belongs to another, nor have I taken from the orchards, nor snatched the milk from the mouth of the babe I have not defrauded, neither I have added to the weight of the balance, nor have I made light the weight in the scales I have not laid waste the plowed land, nor trampled down the fields I have not driven the cattle from their pastures, nor have I deprived any of that which was rightfully theirs I have accused no man falsely, nor have I supported any false accusation I have spoken no lies, neither have I spoken falsely to the hurt of another I have never uttered fiery words, nor have I stirred up strife I have not acted guilefully, neither have I dealt deceitfully, nor spoken to deceive to the hurt another I have not spoken scornfully, nor have I set my lips in motion against any man I have not been an eavesdropper I have not stopped my ears against the words of Right and Truth I have not judged hastily, nor have I judged harshly I have committed no crime in the place of Right and Truth I have caused no wrong to be done to the servant by his master I have not been angry without cause I have not turned back water at its springtide, nor stemmed the flow of running water I have not broken the channel of a running water I have never fouled the water, nor have I polluted the land Sins against the Gods I have not cursed nor despised the Gods, nor have I done that which the Gods does abominate I have not vexed or angered the Gods I have not robbed the Gods, nor have I filched that which has been offered in the temples I have not added unto nor have I diminished the offerings which are due I have not purloined the cakes of the gods I have not carried away the offerings made unto the blessed dead I have not disregarded the season for the offerings which are appointed I have not turned away the cattle set apart for sacrifice I have not thwarted the processions of the god I have not slaughtered with evil intent the cattle of the god Personal Transgressions I have not acted guilefully nor have I acted in insolence I have not been overly proud, nor have I behaved myself with arrogance I have never magnified my condition beyond what was fitting Each day have I labored more than was required of me My name has not come forth to the boat of the Prince