Neith is the ancient Egyptian goddess of creation, wisdom, and warfare. Her origins stretch back to the very dawn of Egyptian civilization, her name etched into the fabric of history from the earliest dynasties, a testament to her enduring significance and veneration across millennia.
Neith is seen as the primeval creator, a deity who precedes all others. She is the weaver of the cosmos, crafting the universe from the dreams and visions harbored within her heart. Each day, she re-weaves the world, maintaining the delicate balance of existence. Her creative prowess is so great that she is said to have birthed Ra, the radiant sun god. Each morning she brings forth the sun anew, illuminating the world with its life-giving rays.
Her role in Egyptian mythology is vast and varied. In creation myths, Neith is a primeval deity involved in the formation of the universe. She is also a protector of pharaohs and a guardian deity for the Egyptian people. In the underworld, she appears as the protector of Duamutef, one of Horus’ four sons.
Symbolism of Neith
Neith’s iconography is as rich and diverse as her roles. She is often depicted as a woman of majestic presence, her stature tall and commanding, her frame slender yet exuding strength. Her skin, typically fair, is a canvas of purity and divinity, while her elegant robes drape around her, signifying her connection to creation and fertility.
As a creator goddess, she sometimes adorns the Red Crown of Lower Egypt, which bears the cobra of Wadjet, the protector of Lower Egypt. In her hands, she may hold the ankh, the symbol of life, and the was-sceptre, representing power and dominion.
As a war goddess, Neith is depicted with formidable weapons: a bow and arrows or a sword and shield, her symbols of martial prowess. She is also associated with the lioness, an emblem of ferocity and power. Sometimes, she is portrayed with a lioness’ head, her forehead adorned with a sun disk and uraeus, further emphasizing her warlike and protective nature.
Her headdress features the crown of Lower Egypt or two crossed arrows. In dynastic times, she was also depicted as a woman with a crocodile suckling at each breast, perhaps indicating her life-giving power over the Nile River.
Appearances in modern culture
Books
- The Serpent’s Shadow (2012) by Rick Riordan
- The First Female Pharaoh: Sobekneferu, Goddess of the Seven Stars (2023)
- Ancient Egyptian Magic: The Ultimate Guide to Gods, Goddesses, Divination, Amulets, Rituals, and Spells of Ancient Egypt (2023)
- The Tomb of Queen Nefertari: Egyptian Gods and Goddesses of the New Kingdom (2020)