This week, my focus is on the ancient goddess Neith. My fascination with her began during my university studies when I was tasked with an assignment on Egyptian mythology. As I delved into various topics, particularly related to gender, funerary practices, and mythology, Neith naturally captured my interest. Her titles like ‘Mistress of the Bows’ and ‘Ruler of the Arrows’ immediately conjured images of strong figures such as the Amazons and Boudica, making her an irresistible choice.
Neith is one of the earliest deities in the rich tapestry of ancient Egyptian mythology, and her extensive narratives, symbols, and forms of worship reveal her complexity. Although we lack extensive early texts that detail her myths, Neith stands out as a powerful goddess associated with both life and death.
Iconography – Evolution of Symbolism
Neith is commonly represented as a woman adorned in a fitted dress topped with the red crown of Lower Egypt, emphasizing her ties to Sais, the center of her worship. Interestingly, in her early manifestations, she might have appeared as a simple fetish: a flagpole combined with a pair of arrows.
During the Early Dynastic period, the click beetle became one of her symbols, later evolving into an image of crossed arrows on a shield. This connection to the beetle can be linked to the primordial waters from which creation emerged, resonating with Neith’s role in cosmic creation. Notably, a gold beetle, inlaid with her symbols, was discovered in a First Dynasty burial.
With the fusion of the shield and arrows into her iconography, Neith solidified her status as a formidable warrior. Often depicted with the ‘was’ scepter of authority, the ‘ankh’ symbol of life, and sometimes armed with a bow and arrows, Neith further embodied this warrior aspect, especially during the Fifth Dynasty when she was illustrated wearing her crown at the Temple of Userkaf.
Worship – Multi-Dimensional Goddess
Neith’s persona reflects her many roles: creator, warrior, and mother. At her temple site in Sais, she is celebrated as ‘Great Mother,’ a title that underscores her importance. Her temple remains a testament to ancient Egyptian architecture, although little remains today. After crafting the world, myths suggest she gave birth to the sun god Ra, embodying creation before the concept of childbirth itself emerged. During the New Kingdom, she was credited with creating humanity, earning her appellation as “the eldest mother of the gods.”
Interestingly, in Hellenistic accounts, Neith is said to have given birth to Re and the chaos monster Apophis, further establishing her as a primary creator. The tales depict her as spitting into the waters, producing Apophis, a serpent that symbolized nightly chaos against the sun’s order.
Neith – Maternal Archetype
Neith’s connection to creation positions her as a quintessential mother figure. Alongside being the creator of men, she is regarded as the mother of crocodiles, linked to Sobek, the crocodile god. In Esna, she bears the title ‘nurse of crocodiles,’ with artifacts depicting her nursing two crocodiles, showcasing a unique maternal imagery found in ancient Egyptian culture.
Unlike other deities, Neith does not consistently appear alongside a male counterpart, indicating her possible neutrality as a goddess. This quality places her alongside other independent figures like Anat and Athena.
Funerary Aspects – Guardian of the Afterlife
Dating back to the Old Kingdom, Neith was intertwined with funerary traditions. In Pyramid Text spell 606, she is described as a protector alongside Isis, Nephthys, and Serket, collectively safeguarding the deceased. Each goddess was responsible for a direction, with Neith overseeing the east and the son Duamutef, protector of the stomach. The imagery of these goddesses often appears in their protective poses near canopic jars.
Neith is similarly linked to weaving, which naturally connects her to mummy wrappings and shrouds. Some theories even suggest that certain hieroglyphs representing her name symbolize a weaving implement instead of the more common images of arrows or beetles.
Warrior – Mistress of the Bows
The warrior aspect of Neith has been emphasized in various studies, fueled in part by her titles which denote strength and skill in battle. Throughout her history, she was recognized as a formidable force, with names like “Neith Fights” and “Neith is Victorious” established during the Early Dynastic Period. By the Old Kingdom, she was viewed as a wise mediator among deities and humanity, also represented as part of the Eye of Ra, a protector whose fiery gaze was said to bring destruction while her tears nurtured life.
Goddess of Lower Egypt
Neith is closely associated with Lower Egypt, depicted wearing its red crown, reflecting her deep-rooted connections to this region. Although her worship waned following her initial prominence, she regained significance during the 26th Dynasty, when kings made Sais their capital and revitalized her temple. Not simply a place of worship, her temple featured a sacred lake, where festivals were celebrated with vibrant displays of light. The temple was thought to contain the secrets of the soul’s communication with the divine, signifying its importance.
From the Early Dynastic period to the Greco-Roman times, Neith underwent various transformations in worship, even becoming identified with Athena. Her multifaceted nature encompasses roles of creator, warrior, and maternal figure, establishing her as a remarkable character in ancient mythology.
What shall we explore next?
