Neith (also Neit, Net, and Nit) is one of the earliest goddesses of ancient Egypt. She is represented as a woman with a bow and two crossed arrows on Her head or in Her hands, and/or wearing the Red Crown of Lower Egypt. She is also seen with the shuttle of a loom on her head. The Greeks identified Her with the goddess Athena.
Importance
Neith was originally a war goddess, leading the charge in battle. Like other goddesses such as Isis, Nephthys and Sekhmet just to name a few, She could be both a mother goddess and a vengeful one. As a mother goddess, Neith gives birth to Re, who in turn creates mankind. She, along with Isis, Selket, and Nephthys, protects the dead. When She get angry, however, She can make the heavens fall down on the earth. She was said to have woven the world on Her loom. During the 26th Dynasty when Her main cult center, Sais, was the capital, Her influence on the people grew considerably. The Feast of Lamps is held in Her honor, when Her followers have huge fires burning all night during the celebration (think like the fires of Beltane.)
Myths
Neith is involved in several important myths. Her creation myth (one version of it, anyway) claims that she was the first being in the waters of Nun to have coherent thought, literally thinking up Egypt and creating it, then pronouncing the names of the thirty main gods, bringing them into being, then separated night and day, and finally giving birth to Re. Another version of Her creation myth involves Her weaving the world on Her loom as mentioned above. In The Contendings of Horus and Seth the gods council Her on who should receive the throne of Egypt. She replies that Horus should be the one, but Seth should be compensated with Anat, Astarte, and treasure. She adds that if they don’t do as She has ruled, She will cause the sky to fall. The gods take this threat seriously, but then they go back to arguing and seem to forget about Her. (Personal note: I always thought that at the end of this myth, She should have said something along the lines of “I told you so” but alas.)
Cult centers
Neith’s worship was widespread in Egypt, but the main cult center was in Sais, a city in the Delta. In fact, She and her place of worship is mentioned in the Papyrus of Ani when he is describing which god/dess is attributed to parts of the body-“Are the forearms of Osiris Ani, triumphant, of the lady of Sais.”
Sacred Symbols
In addition to the bow and crossed arrows (Her war attributes,) the shuttle (Her influence on weaving,) and the Red Crown (Her dominion on the Nile Delta,) She can also be portrayed as a sacred cow with eighteen stars on one side and the ankh around Her neck.
Personal
Ehh...to be honest...I was cleaning up my room and tripped on one of my Egypt books lying on the floor, and like the easily distracted person I am, I picked it up and started reading it. I got to Her entry and I was like “Wow! How come I’ve never heard about her before?” and She’s been a major part of my Egypt education and beyond ever since. She’s my patron (or should it be matron?) deity, and I’ve invoked her help and guidance when I’ve felt uneasy about walking across campus at night, when I’m about to go on stage or the field in a band concert, or when I’m having problems finishing a textile project. I’ve found that She’s a gentle helper and fierce protector.
Bibliography
Who's Who in Egyptian Mythology, Second Edition by Anthony S. Mercatante
Egyptian Legends and Stories by M.V. Seton-Williams
The Egyptian Book of the Dead by E.A Wallis Budge
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