What was the feather the symbol of ancient Egyptian?

In ancient Egypt, the feather, particularly the ostrich feather known as the "Ma'at feather," symbolized truth, justice, and order. It was associated with the goddess Ma'at, who represented these principles and was believed to maintain cosmic balance. In the afterlife, the deceased's heart was weighed against this feather in the Judgment of the Dead; a heart lighter than the feather indicated a just life and allowed entry into the afterlife.