Egyptian society was founded on the concept of ma‛at. Ma‛at regulated the seasons, the movement of the stars, and relations between man and the gods; it was a golden thread running through their ideas about the universe and their code of ethics; it formed the basis of their thinking and especially of the way they approached justice and law.
Ma‛at related to activities of human life and the cosmos in general. After its creation by the sun god Re, ma‛at ordered the universe. Since the pharaoh was a living god, ruling by divine right, he was the supreme judge and lawgiver. As Re’s representative on earth, he was responsible for the preservation of ma‛at and was the nexus between ma‛at and the law (hp).
Ma‛at had a religious, ethical, and moral connection, since it was the guiding principle for all aspects of life and represented the values that all people sought. Ma'at is an idea, invented by the king, and believed by the whole world
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 : Around Ma‛at
Meaning of Ma‛at
The Concept of Ma‛at
The Goddess Ma‛at
Iconography
Royalty and achieving of Ma‛at
Presentation of Ma‛at
Chapter 2 : System of Justice
Administration of Justice
The vizier and his role in Judicial System
Ma‛at and Judges
Judicial courts
The Procedures of the lawsuit
Chapter 3 : The Ancient Egyptian Law
was there a law in ancient Egypt?
The sources of the law
Development of the Egyptian Law
The law of the Personal affairs
Crimes and Punishment
Chapter 4 : Justice between the deities
The concept of the scale
The Justice and the osirion myth
The tale of the two brothers
Hall of the double truths
The Story of the Blinding Truth
Chapter 5 : Literature of Ma‛at
The instructions of Ptah-hotep
The instructions of Meri-K3R3
The eloquent resident of the oasis
Text for appointing the vizier
Objectives and Topics
This work aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the concept of Ma‛at within ancient Egyptian society, exploring its multifaceted role as a divine order, an ethical principle, and the foundational basis for the Egyptian system of justice and law. The study addresses how Ma‛at influenced the administration of justice, the role of the king and the judiciary, and the perception of social responsibility.
- The cosmological and religious significance of Ma‛at.
- The structure and administration of justice, including the roles of the vizier and judges.
- The nature of law and its development throughout different Egyptian dynasties.
- The integration of Ma‛at in ancient Egyptian literature and mythological narratives.
- Specific legal issues, including crimes, punishments, and the procedures of lawsuits.
Excerpt from the Book
Administration of justice:
The courts were guided by the principles of ma‛at and, in fact, the vizier who was in control of the law courts held the title “priest of Ma‛at” (McDowell 1999: 166).
Breasted (1909: 242) remarked: The social, agricultural and industrial world of the Nile Dwellers under the Empire was therefore not at the mercy of an arbitrary whim, on the part of either the king or court, but was governed by a large body of long respected law, embodying principles of justice and humanity.
Egypt didn’t know the independence of the judgment from the executive power. There are many rulers had judicial works beside their administrative powers. The king was the high president of the executive power, in the same time the reference of the justice. Instead of the king didn’t practice their judicial work, he ordered sometimes to form a special “kenbet” to condemnation the accused(Hanna2010:230).
The most ancient constitution of the courts of justice seems to have perished early under the Middle empire that "belonging to the town Nechent", and this is probably a mere title of the monarchs of Beni Hassan and Siut (Hanna2010:230).
In the 46 years of Ramsses II, we find members of the court consisted of: - "Bekenchons, the first prophet of Amun. - User-mont, the prophet of Amun. - Ram, the prophet of Amun. - The prophet Vennofre of the temple of Ma‛at. - The prophet Amen–em–en of the temple of Chons. - The (Holy Father) Amen–em–opet of the temple of Amun.
Summary of Chapters
Chapter 1 : Around Ma‛at: Explores the definition, concept, iconography, and the presentation of Ma‛at, highlighting its importance to the royalty.
Chapter 2 : System of Justice: Details the administrative framework of justice, the roles of viziers and judges, and the standard procedures of lawsuits.
Chapter 3 : The Ancient Egyptian Law: Examines whether a formal system of law existed, its sources, development, personal affairs law, and the structure of crimes and punishments.
Chapter 4 : Justice between the deities: Analyzes the religious and mythological underpinnings of justice through scales, myths, and the afterlife judgment.
Chapter 5 : Literature of Ma‛at: Investigates the didactic literature and instructions that promoted the principles of Ma‛at for leaders and the common people.
Keywords
Ma‛at, Ancient Egypt, Justice, Law, Pharaoh, Vizier, Judiciary, System of Justice, Isfet, Ethics, Mythology, Literature, Ptah-hotep, Merit-K3R3, Social Order
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this work?
The work focuses on the concept of Ma‛at, investigating its significance as a governing principle of order, truth, and justice that underpinned the religious, legal, and social fabric of ancient Egyptian civilization.
What are the primary themes explored?
Central themes include the divine origin of order, the role of the king as the upholder of Ma‛at, the evolution of the Egyptian legal system, the ethical requirements of judges, and the integration of these ideals into myths and wisdom literature.
What is the primary research question?
The study explores how Ma‛at functioned not just as a religious ideal, but as an active, concrete principle of legal and social organization throughout the history of ancient Egypt.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The research primarily employs a qualitative analysis of historical texts, including administrative records, legal decrees, wisdom literature (instructions), and mythological accounts, drawing on the works of prominent Egyptologists.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body examines the administration of justice, the functioning of courts (kenbet), the roles of officials, the nature of laws regarding personal affairs, criminal offenses, and the mythological representations of justice.
Which keywords best characterize the research?
The work is best characterized by keywords such as Ma‛at, Ancient Egyptian Law, Judiciary, Social Justice, and Kingly Authority.
How did the concept of Ma‛at influence the pharaoh's duties?
The pharaoh was viewed as the representative of Re on Earth; his primary duty was to maintain Ma‛at and protect the people from the chaos of Isfet by serving as the supreme lawgiver and judge.
What role did the vizier play in the judicial system?
The vizier acted as the head of state administration and the supreme judge, responsible for implementing the king's decisions, overseeing courts, and ensuring that judicial proceedings remained consistent with the principles of Ma‛at.
Was there a written legal code in ancient Egypt?
The research notes that while there is no evidence of a single, unified codified law similar to Mesopotamian codes, Egyptians operated under royal decrees, precedents, and standardized administrative practices that served as law.
How was adultery perceived in ancient Egyptian law?
Adultery was considered a moral and legal wrong, particularly concerning married women; punishments were severe and could include physical mutilation or, in some cases, death.
- Quote paper
- Mostafa Shaker (Author), 2018, Ma'at. Story of Justice in ancient Egypt, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/412024
