Egyptian Gods

Neith was an ancient Egyptian Goddess of War and Weaving known as early as the Pre-Dynasty and Early Dynasty period. Neith also known as Nit, Net or Neit, was the patron goddess of Zau (Sau, Sai, Sais) in the Western Delta.

Her appearance portrayed as a women wearing a red crown that symbolized Lower Egypt and holding a bow and crossed arrows, linking her to hunting and warfare. She was also often shown holding scepter and the ankh sign of life. Sometimes, she depicted as a woman wearing a shuttle on her head. Occasionally, she was represented as a woman with the head of a lioness, as a snake, or as a cow.

In early times her function as a war deity, invoked blessing for weapons, both for the soldier and the hunter. Mainly shown by her attributes the bow, shield and arrows. She blessed the weapons, where in early times often weapons were placed in tombs surrounding the mummy as protection against evil spirits.

As a goddess of weaving and the domestic arts, she was the protector of women and a guardian of marriage. Since, Neith was also the goddess of war, thus associated her with death, so she became viewed as the protector of the canopic jars one of the Four Sons of Horus together with Isis, Nephthys, and Serqet. Neith watched over specifically Duamutef who guarded the stomach of the dead.

Her name Neith means water, which lead to creation. She was then seen as the mother of Sobek, the crocodile and of Ra, therefore she was given the title “Mother of Gods” in this role as a creator. Sometimes she was being considered the wife of Khnum, the Nile god at Elephantine. Despite this, during the dispute between Set and Horus, she was appeal to for her wisdom as an arbitrator.

Neith largest temple was located at Sais in the Western Delta. A festival called the “Feast of Lamps” was held annually in her honor. Multitude of lights burned in the open air all night during the celebration.