古代埃及书信中的玛阿特观念

The Conception of Maat in Ancient Egyptian Letters

玛阿特在古埃及神话中是真理和正义之神,它所创造的理念具有平衡、秩序、规范、道德等多种内涵,这些内涵充分体现在古埃及的书信当中。无论国王、大臣还是百姓,他们之间往来的书信都要遵循隐含在玛阿特内涵之中的、与各自社会角色和地位相符合的要求,从而推动古埃及人的有效沟通和社会生活的有序运行。本文尝试以古代埃及的信件为文本,发掘古埃及人的书信中所体现的玛阿特的内涵。

Maat is the goddess of truth and justice in ancient Egyptian mythology,she personified the concepts of balance,harmony,morality and other many positive connotations,which are fully reflected in the ancient Egyptian letters.Regardless of whether the king,the minister or the common people,the letters between them should comply with the requirements of their social roles and status implied in the connotation of Maat,thus promoting the effective communication of ancient Egyptians and orderly operation of their social life.This paper attempts to take the letters of ancient Egypt as object and to explore the connotation of Maat reflected in the letters.