Lot 24A
Ancient Egypt, Late Dynastic Period, 26th to 31st Dynasty, ca. 664 to 332 BCE. A lovely stone sculpture depicting the figural form of Maat, the goddess embodying the concepts of order, righteousness, and truth. Maat is more frequently referred to as a concept rather than as a physical deity, and her figural form is typically accompanied by the feather of truth (or feather of Maat); examples from the Late Dynastic Period, like this one, did not include this feather for ease of manufacturing. Maat is shown here squatting atop an integral plinth, knees extended over petite feet, while her expressive visage peers into the distance. Size: 1.3" L x 1" W x 2.4" H (3.3 cm x 2.5 cm x 6.1 cm)
Maat is one of the oldest deities in the Egyptian pantheon and represents far more than simple black-and-white ideals. Egyptologist Carol Andrews explains how "Maat represents all kinds of abstract concepts, such as cosmic order, truth, justice and righteousness, personified as a squatting woman, her hands on her knees and single ostrich plume on her head . . . Contemporary examples in the round in Egyptian blue often lack the feather for manufacturing reasons." (Andrews, Carol. Amulets of Ancient Egypt. University of Texas Press, Austin, 1994, pp. 21-22). The ideal of Maat was vital to the lives of ancient Egyptians as it not only defined how well an individual life should be lived but also created a sense of societal morality, a structure of norms by which the populace should abide if they are to meet each other again in the afterlife. Further, Egyptologist Garry J. Shaw explains: "The aim of every living being, from the gods to the pharaoh and mankind, was to ensure that order (Maat) was not overtaken by disorder (isfet). To the Egyptians, Maat permeated all things, and those who broke its laws were punished, whether they knew of them or not. The gods even lived on Maat, referring to it as their beer, food and drink." (Shaw, Garry J. The Egyptian Myths: A Guide to the Ancient Gods and Legends. Thames & Hudson Ltd., London, 2014, p. 31)
Provenance: private R.D. collection, Long Beach, California, USA collection, acquired from Palmyra Heritage Gallery, New York, USA in the late 1990s
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#189554
- Condition: Professionally repaired with some adhesive along visible break line. Some abrasions to surface as shown, commensurate with age. Mineral deposits to proper right side. Otherwise, nice presentation with smooth surfaces and trace remaining detail.
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