NMC101H1 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1-5: Responsible Government, Maat
15 Sep 2016
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Document Summary
Egyptian theologians developed ideology of kingship that showed pharaoh as link between men and gods: justified unchallenged rule at head of centralized state. All 3 levels of obligation part of ruling with maat. Maat translated many ways but most commonly justice" or. Righteousness": in context of exercising kingship relates to maintenance of cosmic equilibrium (which included social and political spheres, cosmic dimension of maat is conveyed in its mythical embodiment as a solar daughter and eye" (disc) of sun god. Relates to dogma of kingship that demanded continuous struggle against threats to existing order. By doing so, king would maintain maat on a variety of levels including: sphere of everyday life, social solidarity, and (for king) responsible government. One of the most prominent artistic motifs in egyptian royal iconography from early periods onwards is representative of king smiting enemies (stone mace)
