KV47 is the burial place of pharaoh Siptah Akhenre Setepenre, who ruled c. 1197-1191 BC during Dynasty 19. As with most tombs in the Valley of the Kings, it was largely unfinished and undecorated when the king died, but the outer corridors were plastered and decorated to a high standard.

This artwork, found in Corridor B of the tomb, depicts the winged goddess Maat, the divine embodiment of order, truth, justice, and balance. She is shown kneeling on a basket, her wings spread wide in a gesture of divine protection around the royal cartouches of Siptah, flanked by the shen ring, a symbol of eternity and unending protection. This composition is rich in both symbolism and language. The image of Maat is not only a religious figure but also a hieroglyphic representation of her own name.

In ancient Egyptian writing, the name Maat was spelled using a combination of symbols: the ostrich feather she wears on her head (the primary symbol of the concept), a seated or kneeling woman (indicating a goddess), and often a basket beneath her, which is the hieroglyph “nb,” meaning “all” or “lord.” When shown together, as in this artwork, these elements function both as a depiction of the goddess and as a hieroglyphic spelling of her name. It is a striking example of how ancient Egyptian art and writing were deeply intertwined, blending image, word, and meaning into a single sacred form.

Maat was essential to the Egyptian worldview: her presence upheld the stability of the universe and society, while her absence brought isfet - chaos, injustice, and imbalance. She also played a central role in the afterlife, where the heart of the deceased was weighed against her feather in the judgment of the soul.
This image, then, does more than adorn the tomb: it invokes Maat’s power to protect the king’s name, affirm his moral worth, and preserve cosmic order into eternity.