| Maat |
The goddess Maat, shown seated in the hieroglyph,
embodies the Egyptian concepts of law, justice and truth. The tall
ostrich feather on her head is her symbol. She is the personification of
world order and one of her chief responsibilities was to re-establish
and maintain the original order of the cosmos. In this context she was
"offered" by the king as an important gift to the gods,
usually in the form of a miniature image of Maat. |
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Menit Necklace
menit |
A heavy bead necklace with a crescent front piece and a
counterpoise attached at the rear. Like the sistrum,
this elaborate necklace may have functioned as a percussion instrument
in some religious contexts. It is certainly a symbol associated with the
goddess Hathor and her son Ihy. The menit appears to have functioned as
a medium through which Hathor's power was transmitted. |
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Mountain
djew |
The symbol shows two rounded peaks with a strip of earth
between them, representing the Nile valley. The two peaks represent the
east (Bakhu) and west (Manu) as supporting pillars for heaven. The sign
occurs again in the sign for horizon, akhet. |
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Mourning Woman
iakbyt |
Traditionally it was the role of the women to act as
mourners. The expressive gesture of one hand to the head can symbolize
the act of covering the head or throwing dust upon the head as a sign of
sorrow. |
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