Maat

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Ma'at
(Deity)

Titles
The Feather of Truth
Alignment
Areas of Concern
Justice, law, order, truth
Edicts
Defend civilization from chaos, live an honest and just life, be impartial in judgement and reveal the truth
Anathema
Deal unfairly with your family or community, destroy the environment, lie
Follower Alignments (1E)
Domains (1E)
Knowledge, Law, Protection, Void, Weather
Subdomains (1E)
Inevitable, Judgment, Purity, Seasons, Stars, Thought
Follower Alignments (2E)
Sanctification (2E)
Can choose holy
Domains (2E)
Knowledge, protection, star, truth
Favored Weapon
Symbol
Blue ostrich feather
Sacred Animal
Sacred Colors
Blue, red
Source: Empty Graves, pg(s). 70 (1E)
Divine Mysteries, pg(s). 312–313 (2E)

Ma'at (or Maat as it was sometimes spelled)1 was the Ancient Osirian goddess of balance, justice, and truth, guardian of cosmic order. She embodied the concepts that a pharaoh must uphold for a legitimate, efficient reign, lest everything dissolve into chaos. She was also responsible for the movement of celestial bodies across the sky, and the procession of the seasons.2

Dogma

Ma'at commanded her followers to be a bulwark against the corrupting forces of chaos, and to embody fairness and justice. She forbade her followers from lying, treating those close to them unfairly, and desecrating the natural world.3

History

Since the Age of Destiny and the founding of Osirion civilization, the people of Osirion worshipped their own local gods, including Ma'at, in addition to those deities venerated more commonly throughout the Inner Sea region. Their worship was most popular during the early millennia and waned as the Osirian people gradually turned to foreign deities. During the Age of Enthronement, the Osirian gods, while continuing to guide Osirion from afar, retreated from Golarion and turned their attention towards the distant land of Kemet. When Osirion was under Keleshite rule, the foreign overlords sought to eradicate the faith of the indigenous gods, but they remained a part of the history of Osirion's land and people. After the restoration of native Osirian rule in 4609 AR,4 interest in these ancient divinities was rekindled.56

Disappearance

According to Amenopheus, after the death of Gorum in 4724 AR, Nethys and Thoth battled over a source of power in the Inner Sea north of Sothis. Nethys emerged as the victor and cast Thoth away from Golarion. A whirlpool appeared at the site of the battle, and a coven of the hag goddesses Gyronna, Mestama, and Alazhra entered it to begin performing a ritual of unknown purpose. This spurred the Osirian deities Ra, Horus, Anubis, Osiris, Ma'at, and Isis to rise in opposition of them, but the old gods of Osirion were unable to disrupt the ritual. However, Gyronna briefly stuttered while reciting the ritual, an error that offered enough of a chance for the Osirian deities to intervene. All nine deities vanished in a flash, their fates unknown.7

Appearance

Ma'at appears as a woman with a blue ostrich feather on her head and winged arms, carrying an ankh and a was scepter representing life and power.2

Relationships

A family tree of the Osirian pantheon.

Ma'at was the daughter of Ra; sister of Bastet, Hathor, and Sekhmet; and wife of Thoth. She presided over the councils of the gods due to her impartiality and honesty, assisted Pharasma in the judgement of souls, and opposed Set and Apep for their attempts to sow chaos.2

Worshippers

Ma'at was worshipped by paladins as the embodiment of justice, and monks and oracles for the cosmic truth she embodied.2

After her disappearance, prayers to Ma'at and the rest of the missing gods of Osirion go unanswered.7

References

  1. In Pathfinder First Edition, Paizo spelled this deity's name with no apostrophe.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Robert G. McCreary. “Gods of Ancient Osirion” in Empty Graves, 70. Paizo Inc., 2014
  3. Robert Adducci, et al. “Appendix” in Gods & Magic, 124–125. Paizo Inc., 2020
  4. Erik Mona, et al. Golden Road” in World Guide, 51. Paizo Inc., 2019
  5. Rob McCreary. (March 13, 2014). The Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Osirion, Paizo Blog.
  6. Robert G. McCreary. “Gods of Ancient Osirion” in Empty Graves, 65. Paizo Inc., 2014
  7. 7.0 7.1 James Case, et al. “Mythic Vault” in War of Immortals, 143. Paizo Inc., 2024