'Maat', morals and justice in Ancient Egypt

Asbury, Beth Louise (2005). 'Maat', morals and justice in Ancient Egypt. University of Birmingham. M.Phil.

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Abstract

The aim of this dissertation was to research the theory behind morality and apply it to ancient Egypt. This is an area that has been touched on slightly before by other authors, but not from the perspective of asking why morality exists at all. Morals are shown to form an intrinsic part of society because they encourage cooperation between individuals, which is useful for community survival. In Egypt these ideas became embodied in their concept of Maat, so important it became deified, and was even central to Akhenaten’s ‘heretic’ reign. Maat was at the very core of their culture, according to elite literary sources, but historical sources and non-elite documentation from Deir el-Medina, show a different picture and that they did not always really live up to their ideals. Some extreme behaviour and immorality can be justified, however, but realistically, state organisations also need judicial institutions to deal with those who do not conform. Whether a law code existed in Egypt is an ongoing debate, but decrees have survived showing a variety of crimes and punishments. Morality is a human construct, but provides good guidelines on how to live, which is why its fundamentals vary so little cross-culturally and cross-spatially.

Type of Work:	Thesis (Masters by Research > M.Phil.)
Award Type:	Masters by Research > M.Phil.
College/Faculty:	Schools (1998 to 2008) > School of Historical Studies
School or Department:	Institute of Archaeology and Antiquity
Funders:	None/not applicable
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BL Religion D History General and Old World > DT Africa
URI:	http://etheses.bham.ac.uk/id/eprint/17628

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