Entry
Reader's guide
Entries A-Z
Subject index
Maat
Maat represents the personification of a cluster of concepts that introduce the world to abstract ideas of philosophy, such as order, truth, balance, harmony, justice, reciprocity, and propriety. Represented in ancient Egyptian literature as a goddess, Maat is unlike the familiar goddesses of Hathor, Nebhet, and Auset, in that she was more a concept than a goddess to be worshipped. It was believed by the ancient Egyptians that Maat existed as long as Ra existed and that when the universe was created it was only Maat with Ra. Without Maat, chaos would reign, evil would conquer, and injustice would be the state of the world; thus, it was necessary that Maat exist from the beginning of the universe and come into being as the food ...
- Ancestral Figures
- Communalism and Family
- Concepts and Ideas
- Deities and Divinities
- Abasi
- Agwe
- Aida Wedo
- Aiwel
- Akamba
- Amen
- Anubis
- Anukis
- Apep
- Apis
- Asase Yaa
- Aten
- Atum
- Ausar
- Auset
- Azaka, the Loa
- Bes
- Bondye
- Chi
- Danbala Wedo
- Divinities
- Eleda
- Eniyan
- Ennead
- Esu, Elegba
- Ezili Dantò
- Ezili Freda
- Faro
- God
- Goddesses
- Hapi
- Hathor
- Heru, Horus
- Ibis, Symbol of Tehuti
- Jok (Acholi)
- Khnum
- Khonsu
- Mami Wata
- Mawu-Lisa
- Min
- Montu
- Nana Buluku
- Ngai
- Ngewo
- Nkulunkulu
- Nyame
- Nzambi
- Obatala
- Oduduwa
- Ogdoad
- Ogun
- Olodumare
- Olokun
- Olorun
- Orisha Nla
- Orunmila
- Oshun
- Oya
- Ptah
- Ra
- Ruhanga
- Sekhmet
- Serapis
- Seshat
- Set
- Shango
- Shu
- Songo
- Sopdu
- Tefnut
- Thoth
- Tibonanj
- Wepwawet
- Woyengi
- Yao
- Yemonja
- Zin
- Eternality
- Nature
- Personalities and Characters
- Possessors of Divine Energy
- Rituals and Ceremonies
- Adae
- Agricultural Rites
- Ceremonies
- Circumcision
- Clitorectomy
- Dance and Song
- Desounen
- Harvest
- Incense
- Initiation
- Invocations
- Lele
- Medicine
- Medicine Men and Women
- Mediums
- Mummification
- Music
- Naming
- Offering
- Ohum Festival
- Opening of the Mouth Ceremony
- Puberty
- Purification
- Rain Dance
- Rites of Passage
- Rites of Reclamation
- Rituals
- Seclusion
- Shawabti
- Shrines
- Societies of Secrets
- Yam
- Yanvalou
- Sacred Spaces and Objects
- Akhenaten
- Altars
- Amulet
- Asamando
- Bata Drums
- Boats
- Bois Caiman
- Cowrie Shells
- Crossroads
- Drum, The
- Flag and Flag Planting
- Govi
- Groves, Sacred
- Ikin
- Ilé-Ifè
- Incense
- Kisalian Graves
- Lakes
- Maroon Communities
- Mount Cameroon
- Mount Kenya
- Mountains and Hills
- Oumfò
- Potomitan
- Pyramids
- Rivers and Streams
- Rocks and Stones
- Sarcophagus
- Sphinx
- Totem
- Vilokan
- Waset
- Societies
- Symbols, Signs, and Sounds
- Taboo and Ethics
- Texts
- Traditions
- Akan
- Asante
- Azande
- Baga
- Baganda
- Bakongo
- Bakota
- Balanta
- Balengue
- Baluba
- Bamana
- Bamileke
- Bamun
- Banyankore
- Banyarwanda
- Bariba
- Barotse
- Bassa
- Basuto
- Batonga
- Bete
- Bobo
- Candomblé
- Chagga
- Chewa
- Chokwe
- Convince
- Dagu
- Dinka
- Diola
- Dioula
- Dogon
- Duala
- Efik
- Ekoi
- Ewe
- Fang
- Fon
- Fula (Fulbe)
- Ga
- Gamo Religion
- Gola
- Gurunsi
- Haya
- Hoodoo
- Hutu
- Ibibio
- Idoma
- Igbo
- Jola
- Kabre of Togo
- KalÛnga
- Kirdi
- Kumina
- Lobi
- Lomwe
- Lovedu
- Lugbara
- Luo
- Maasai
- Mende
- Mossi
- N'domo
- North America, African Religion in
- Nuer
- Obeah
- Okande
- Ovambo
- Palo
- Pedi
- Petwo
- Peul
- Rada
- Santeria
- Sara
- Saramacca
- Senufo
- Serer
- Shilluk
- Shona
- Songo
- Sotho
- Susu
- Swazi
- Tallensi
- Teke
- Tellem
- Temne
- Tiv
- Tsonga
- Tswana
- Tutsi
- Umbanda
- Vai
- Vodou and the Haitian Revolution
- Vodou in Benin
- Vodou in Haiti
- Vodunsi
- Wamala
- West African Religion
- Winti
- Wolof
- Xhosa
- Yao
- Yoruba
- Zarma
- Zulu
- Values
- Loading...