Creative Historical Essay Writing: Egyptian Medicine
Like Ma���at, Egypt���s history is marked by duality. From the ancient Egyptians��� philosophies to their politics, the theme of duality is played out time after time. Through it they united diverse cultures, and its recognition helped to create a lasting civilization never seen before nor since. Mankind has marvelled at their accomplishments, and wondered at their longevity. In terms of religion this duality was never more so apparent than in Ma���at.
The dual nature of Ma���at is discovered in an abstract idea embracing order, balance and justice; and as an anthropomorphic goddess. While other cultures struggled to explain the concept of Ma���at by using a multitude of terms, the Egyptians used but one, and in so doing ���Provided a positive and constructive single principle of order��� (Tobin, Theological Principles 78). Through their literature, whether it be religious, instructional or simply an entertaining story, the many faces of Ma���at are revealed. She was much more than a goddess or a concept. She embodied a way of life which remained a cornerstone of Egyptian thought and behaviour. Ma���at was a unifying force, and a legacy of ancient civilisation we would do well to emulate.
A simplified definition of Ma���at included ���the unity of all things��� which encompassed ���cosmic ���[and] ��� political order, ��� morality,��� and even good etiquette������ (Tobin, Theological Principles 77). Through her connections with Tefnut who was the daughter of Atum, we find Ma���at playing a principle role in the Heliopolitan myth. The difficulty in defining Ma���at comes with our modern inability to qualify her in one word. Civilisations within ancient Egypt���s own time could not accomplish a one word description of their neighbour���s unique conception of Ma���at. Not even the Greek concept of dike��� ���gained the all-embracing role which Ma���at held in Egyptian thinking��� (Tobin 77). Unlike the Egyptian���s optimistic thinking, the Grecian dike��� ���was as much of a threat as it was a blessing���, and because of the necessity of incorporating the idea of Ma���at into many words ���the Greek mind had eventually to formulate complex philosophical systems��� (Tobin 78). Thus her influence extended beyond Egypt���s borders.
This difficulty of definition extended to others parts of the ancient world, due in no small part to ���the Egyptians [being in] .. a happy position of geographic isolation��� (Wilson 12-13). Where the Mesopotamians, the Syro-Palestinians, or the Anatolians were constantly on guard against foreign attack, it was unlikely ���that that threat would penetrate Egypt with damaging force��� (Wilson 13). Such security allowed for an optimistic viewpoint to evolve in the Egyptian psyche, and this optimism was the crux of Ma���at formulation and thinking.
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