Gender Feminine
Usage Egyptian Mythology
Scripts 饟尦饟伖饟啈饟偋饟弿饟尀饟厗(Hieroglyphs)
Other Forms FormsMaftet, Mefdet
Meaning & History
From Egyptian m隃d.t, possibly meaning "the runner", deriving from the noun-forming prefix m- combined with jfd "to flee". This was the name of the Egyptian goddess of judgement, justice and execution, often depicted as a cheetah, serval, or panther. It is believed that she was the first feline deity, predating Bastet and Sekhmet. She is also associated with mongooses. She protected Ra, killed scorpions and snakes, and ripped out the hearts of transgressors and delivered them to the pharaoh's feet.