ECHOES OF ANCIENT AFRICAN VALUES
by
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THE GODDESS MA’AT
For ancient Black Egyptians, a state of order (or harmony or balance) was so foundational in their lives that they divinely personified the abstract concept of order in the form of the goddess Ma’at. In her original role as a goddess in mortuary mythology, she was depicted as wearing an ostrich plume (feather) on her head. A picture of this feather was often used as the hieroglyphic symbol for both her name and for “truth.” Her origin dates (?5500 B.C. in the pre-Egypt area) to that period when priest-astronomers had already charted the stars and planets; had noted the earth responded to these orbits; and had devised units of measurements (e.g. arithmetic and geometry) based upon the observed periodicity of astronomic events. These measurements so matched the celestial order as to itself amount to a revelation regarding the organizing principle by which the Egyptians realized and recognized its own latent harmony.
So wondrous were the cycles of celestial bodies -- and their ever greater, more majestic, and infinitely widening cycles -- that the priest inferred laws by which gods came into being and then disappeared. These laws were “hooked” up to the new mathematical insights into the earlier-known mystery of biological death and generation. Thought to arise from the lunar rhythm of the womb as a result of cosmic order, the goddess Ma’at, through a mathematical law, was viewed as a correspondent between the earth and celestial realms. Since all Egyptians anticipated becoming part of the cosmos when they died, Ma’at and her principles were used to make this happen. By putting pertinent mathematical connections into philosophical words, the Egyptians formulated Ma’at laws. Strict adherence to Ma’at’s laws and manifestations represented a frame within which the Egyptians could use as a standard and guide so as to feel secure about living up to the divine plan for all creation As an expression of God’s love in the world, Ancient Africans believed Ma’at was the true essence of creation (Bunson, Encyclopedia Ancient Egypt, p. 152) and believed that every descendant of Africans contained in his/her mind and physical body the manifestations of Ma’at -- truth, wisdom, justice, balance, and all the power, strength, and courage needed for getting through life.
Since the heart was said to be the center of thought, memory, and emotion -- and thus associated with intellect and character -- the Egyptians originated the first concept of a Judgment Day for the dead. The resultant ceremony, called the Weighing of the Heart, took place in presence of Osiris, god of the dead and in the Hall of Two Truths. On a pair of enormous scales, the heart was weighed against Ma’at’s feather (the symbol of justice). If the heart was heavy with the weight of wrongdoings, the balance would sink. Then the she-monster Am-Mut (eater of the dead) would immediately devour it. Otherwise, the deceased entered the Afterlife -- a great achievement. Since the Egyptians were the only ones around the Mediterranean “pond” to hold a happy view of death, they were quite willing to be wise and virtuous for a chance at eternal bliss. This “afterlife” concept was borrowed into the religions of Christianity, Islam, Zoroastrianism, and Orphism -- but not by the Greeks. Ma’at was generally depicted holding the magic cross of life in one hand and the Papyrus Scepter (representing the book of the law) in the other – the entire picture being borrowed into
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About the Book
Ancient Africans, perhaps around 5500 BC, established a tradition based upon truth, goodness, beauty, and other immaterial and intangible aspects of things of worth. Believing all of God’s creations were forever linked, they focused on having good relations with and behaviors toward fellow human beings and with nature – both for the purpose of reaching a heaven afterlife. Out of these concepts arose the sense of community, including the practice of no person being left behind.
Echoes of Ancient African Values discusses who Ancient Africans were as a people; their genius and creative ways of thinking; their philosophical and spiritual foundations; and their world shaping achievements. Unfortunately, peoples throughout the world have failed to realize or acknowledge the fact that Ancient Africans have produced the most brilliance civilization and culture the world has ever known. This applies whether the measure is by significance, greatness, or numbers.
The fashioning of such brilliance inside high morals not only transcended space and time but also designed sublime echoes. A major premise of this book is that these echoes were extremely instrumental in enabling Ancient African slaves to survive their hellish situation as well as having ongoingly contributed to the recovery of Black Americans from the effects of slavery. Numerous examples are given. Otherwise, what is stressed to all peoples in the world is that Ancient African Values contain workable answers for solving every type of problem concerning humanity.
About the Author
Dr. Bailey retired early from a busy orthopaedic surgical practice to devote full time to helping struggling Black youth. His work emphasizes mentoring as well as researching and writing on subjects of Ancient African history (mainly prior to 2100 BC), African American experiences (especially in slavery), and lifeskills for success. Topics from these categories have been presented over a twelve year period in two weekly newspaper columns and in scattered magazine articles.
During his 40 years career in medicine, Dr. Bailey published more than 30 articles in renowned medical journals and authored three medical textbooks: Disproportionate Short Stature, Diagnosis and Management (which changed the world’s literature on the subject); The Concise Dictionary of Medical-Legal Term (the first of its kind); and A Handbook for Worker’s Compensation Physicians.
Book writings on the Black experience carry the titles of Black American History; English from a Black American Perspective; American Crime from a Black American Perspective; Rising above Poverty; Rising Above Racism; Ancient-African World Migrations; African Cultural Ripples; Freeing the Enslaved Mind; A Dictionary of Afrocentric Terms; I Am Somebody, Becoming A Champion Somebody; Self-Esteem in Black Americans; and others. Books embracing but extending beyond the Black experience include: The Story of Words (emphasizing African origins); Rational Thinking, Kids at Work; Humor; Manners/Etiquette/ Civility; Handling Bad Emotions; Preparing to Prepare; Good Character; and others.
Dr. Bailey received degrees from