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[[Image:Neith.jpg|right|frame|Neith]] |
[[Image:Neith.jpg|right|frame|Neith]] |
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In [[Egyptian mythology]], '''Neith''' (also known as '''Nit''', '''Net''' and '''Neit''') was a [[psychopomp]], a [[goddess]] of [[war]] and [[hunting|the hunt]] and the patron [[Deities#Egyptian_mythology|deity]] of [[Sais, Egypt|Sais]], in the [[Western Delta]]. As well, she was the patroness of [[weaving]] - the [[bandage]]s and [[shrouds]] worn by the [[mummy|mummified]] deceased were said to be gifts from Neith. She was often portrayed holding a set of [[bow and arrow]]s, occasionally a [[harpoon]]. She was the mother of [[Sobek]]. At [[Banebdjetet]]'s request, she interceded in the war between [[Horus]] and [[Set (god)|Set]] over the [[Egypt]]ian throne; she recommended that Horus rule. She served as protector for [[Duamutef]], one of the Four Sons of Horus. |
In [[Egyptian mythology]], '''Neith''' (also known as '''Nit''', '''Net''' and '''Neit''') was a [[psychopomp]], a [[goddess]] of [[war]] and [[hunting|the hunt]] and the patron [[Deities#Egyptian_mythology|deity]] of [[Sais, Egypt|Sais]], in the [[Western Delta]]. As well, she was the patroness of [[weaving]] - the [[bandage]]s and [[shrouds]] worn by the [[mummy|mummified]] deceased were said to be gifts from Neith. She was often portrayed holding a set of [[bow and arrow]]s, occasionally a [[harpoon]]. She was the mother of [[Sobek]]. At [[Banebdjetet]]'s request, she interceded in the war between [[Horus]] and [[Set (god)|Set]] over the [[Egypt]]ian throne; she recommended that Horus rule. She served as protector for [[Duamutef]], one of the Four Sons of Horus. |
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Her name is linked to the root of the word for “weave” (ntt.) Some of her titles were Great Cow Who Gave Birth to Ra, the Highest Judge, and Mother of All. A very ancient creator goddess, Neith guarded the deceased, and made sacred warriors’ weapons. She was a protectress of women and a guardian of marriage. Neith was also known as a goddess of weaving and the domestic arts, and she was said to have woven the world on her loom. Neith was originally worshipped as an ancient war goddess, who led the charge in battle. Her emblem was a shield displaying two crossed arrows. |
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Royal woman often named themselves after Neith in her honor, as did some pharaohs. Plutarch says her temple (of which nothing now remains) bore the inscription: “I am All That Has Been, That Is, and That Will Be. No mortal has yet been able to lift the veil that covers Me.” A great festival, called the Feast of Lamps, was held annually in her honor, and according to Herodotus her devotees burned a multitude of lights in the open air all night during the celebration. There is evidence of an Osiris-like cult of a woman dying and being brought back to life that was connected with Neith. |
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Neith appears as a woman with a weavers’ shuttle atop her head, holding a bow and arrows, a woman with the head of a lioness, as a snake, or as a cow. Sometimes Neith was pictured as a woman nursing a baby crocodile (her son, the crocodile-god Sobek). One of her titles was “Nurse of Crocodiles.” It was in the funerary mode that Neith was depicted at her most fierce, shooting arrows at the evil spirits that would attack the deceased, either in the tomb or during the passage through the Underworld. Despite being a goddess, Neith was described as androgynous, two-thirds of her person being male, and one-third female. Neith was thought to be the protector of Duamutef. She was sometimes considered to be the mother of Ra and the wife of Khnum or Set. |
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She was identified with [[Nephthys]] and [[Anouke]]. Neith may also correspond to the [[Berber]] and [[Punic]] goddess [[Tanit]]. |
She was identified with [[Nephthys]] and [[Anouke]]. Neith may also correspond to the [[Berber]] and [[Punic]] goddess [[Tanit]]. |
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Revision as of 10:00, 8 May 2005
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In Egyptian mythology, Neith (also known as Nit, Net and Neit) was a psychopomp, a goddess of war and the hunt and the patron deity of Sais, in the Western Delta. As well, she was the patroness of weaving - the bandages and shrouds worn by the mummified deceased were said to be gifts from Neith. She was often portrayed holding a set of bow and arrows, occasionally a harpoon. She was the mother of Sobek. At Banebdjetet's request, she interceded in the war between Horus and Set over the Egyptian throne; she recommended that Horus rule. She served as protector for Duamutef, one of the Four Sons of Horus.
Her name is linked to the root of the word for “weave” (ntt.) Some of her titles were Great Cow Who Gave Birth to Ra, the Highest Judge, and Mother of All. A very ancient creator goddess, Neith guarded the deceased, and made sacred warriors’ weapons. She was a protectress of women and a guardian of marriage. Neith was also known as a goddess of weaving and the domestic arts, and she was said to have woven the world on her loom. Neith was originally worshipped as an ancient war goddess, who led the charge in battle. Her emblem was a shield displaying two crossed arrows.
Royal woman often named themselves after Neith in her honor, as did some pharaohs. Plutarch says her temple (of which nothing now remains) bore the inscription: “I am All That Has Been, That Is, and That Will Be. No mortal has yet been able to lift the veil that covers Me.” A great festival, called the Feast of Lamps, was held annually in her honor, and according to Herodotus her devotees burned a multitude of lights in the open air all night during the celebration. There is evidence of an Osiris-like cult of a woman dying and being brought back to life that was connected with Neith.
Neith appears as a woman with a weavers’ shuttle atop her head, holding a bow and arrows, a woman with the head of a lioness, as a snake, or as a cow. Sometimes Neith was pictured as a woman nursing a baby crocodile (her son, the crocodile-god Sobek). One of her titles was “Nurse of Crocodiles.” It was in the funerary mode that Neith was depicted at her most fierce, shooting arrows at the evil spirits that would attack the deceased, either in the tomb or during the passage through the Underworld. Despite being a goddess, Neith was described as androgynous, two-thirds of her person being male, and one-third female. Neith was thought to be the protector of Duamutef. She was sometimes considered to be the mother of Ra and the wife of Khnum or Set.
She was identified with Nephthys and Anouke. Neith may also correspond to the Berber and Punic goddess Tanit.
The evil Apep (Apophis) was created from her saliva, which she spat into the primordial waters embodied by Nu.
Plato's Timaeus stated that she was the Greek goddess 'Athene' by another name, although historically they do not share the same origins.
Alternative Definitions
The planet Venus was once thought to have a moon, which was called Neith.