Neith the MYSTERIOUS Egyptian Spider Goddess

Today, we will be exploring the history and story of the Egyptian goddess Neith, the goddess of wisdom, war, and creation. Focusing mainly on her relation to spiders in Ancient Egyptian mythology.

Neith was a powerful and respected goddess in ancient Egyptian mythology, worshiped for thousands of years in different regions of the country. She was revered as the goddess of war and hunting, as well as the goddess of weaving and creation, making her a multifaceted deity with many important roles, making her a powerful figure in ancient Egyptian mythology and religion and was considered one of the oldest deities in the Egyptian pantheon. Neith was the grandmother of the Egyptian gods, mother to the sun god Ra, Apep the serpent god and Sobek the ancient crocodile deity. She is also associated with the Canaanite goddess Astarte and the Akkadian goddess Ishtar. And upon learning of this Egyptian goddess, Plato wrote in The Timaeus that Neith was very similar to their goddess, Athena.

I have an entire video about Athena as well as one about Ishatar or Innana and her connection to the first spider that I will link at the end of this video if you want to learn more about her.

One of the most distinctive symbols associated with Neith is the sun disk, which represents the power of the sun and the sky, and symbolizes her role as the goddess of creation. According to ancient Egyptian myths, Neith was one of the earliest deities in the creation of the world, and was believed to have created the sun, moon, and the stars. Though over time, some of her attributes were transferred to other, newer gods in the Egyptian pantheon.

Neith was also associated with the art of weaving, and was revered as the patron goddess of the weavers. She was believed to have created the first garment, and was credited with teaching humans the art of weaving. This symbolizes her role as the goddess of creation and the nurturer of life, as well as her wisdom and knowledge as weaving was a very vital aspect of Egyptian life. She also has ties to the first mummifications and is said to have been the one to teach the Egyptians how to wrap their mummies so they would stay well preserved.

One of the most famous stories about Neith is that of her weaving the shroud of Osiris, the god of the afterlife. According to this story, Osiris was killed by his brother Set and was brought back to life by his sister and wife, Isis. To honor her husband, Isis asked Neith to weave a shroud for Osiris, which would keep his body preserved for eternity. Neith agreed to the task, however, she was not just a weaver, she was also a powerful goddess, and wanted to ensure that her work was done to the highest standards.

So, Neith decided to create the first spider, which would help her in weaving the shroud. The spider was said to be the first weaver of the world, and its intricate webs were seen as symbols of Neith's creation and power. The spider was also seen as a symbol of life and fertility, and was revered as a sacred creature that embodied the essence of Neith's creation.

Together, Neith and the spider worked on the shroud of Osiris, weaving it with great care and precision. When the shroud was complete, it was said to be the most beautiful and intricate work of weaving that had ever been done. The shroud became a symbol of Neith's power and her role as the mother of all life, and was revered as a sacred object for generations to come.

Another important aspect of Neith's mythology is her role as the goddess of war and hunting. She was depicted holding a bow and arrows, and was believed to be a fierce warrior and protector of her people. She was also associated with the goddess of the hunt, and was revered by hunters and warriors alike.

Despite her role as the goddess of war, Neith was also seen as a wise and peaceful deity, and was revered for her intelligence and her ability to solve problems. She was often depicted as a mediator, helping to resolve disputes and bring peace to the world.

This is seen in another ancient myth about Neith and spiders:

We now know she was often associated with creation, war, and hunting, but she was also known as the "weaver of fate" due to her ability to control destiny.

One day, as Neith was walking through the fields of Egypt, she came across a spider spinning a web. She stopped to watch the spider, fascinated by the intricate patterns it was creating.

As she watched, the spider suddenly stopped spinning and turned to face her. "Great Neith," it said, "I have been watching you for some time, and I know of your great powers. But do you know the power of the web I weave?"

Neith was intrigued. "What power does your web hold, little spider?" she asked.

The spider replied, "My web is a symbol of fate, just as you are the weaver of fate. But my web is different from yours, for it shows that fate is not always certain. The threads of my web are constantly changing, shifting, and moving in new directions, just as the fates of humans can change based on their choices and actions."

Neith was impressed by the spider's wisdom and insight. She realized that the spider's web represented the fluidity of fate and the importance of free will.

From that day on, Neith had a new respect for the spiders of Egypt, and they became a symbol of the unpredictable nature of fate. And whenever she saw a spider spinning its web, she would remember the spider's words and the lesson it had taught her.

In addition to her roles as the goddess of war, creation, and weaving, Neith was also associated with the ankh, the symbol of life. She was believed to be a source of life and fertility, and was revered as a nurturer and caretaker of her people as taught in the story of Neith and the spiders of the desert:

Once, Neith was traveling through the desert when she came across a group of spiders who were in distress. They explained to her that a powerful sandstorm had destroyed their webs and left them without shelter or protection.

Moved by their plight, Neith decided to help them. She used her divine powers to create a magical mist that covered the desert, shielding the spiders from the storm and providing them with a safe place to rebuild their webs.

As the spiders worked, Neith sat and watched them, fascinated by the way they spun their webs with such skill and precision. She asked the spiders to teach her their weaving techniques, and they were more than happy to oblige.

Over time, Neith became a skilled weaver herself, creating intricate and beautiful designs with her thread. Her webs were so strong and durable that they could withstand even the fiercest of storms, and she became known as the "mistress of the web."

Thanks to the spiders' teachings and her own talents, Neith became a great weaver and a respected goddess, known for her wisdom, strength, and creativity. And the spiders remained her loyal friends and companions, always willing to share their knowledge and skills with her.

Neith was worshiped throughout ancient Egypt, and her cult was one of the most popular in the country. She was considered to have a special connection to the gods, and her abilities as a weaver and creator were considered vital to the well-being of the kingdom. Her temples were some of the most important in ancient Egypt, and her festivals were celebrated with great enthusiasm by the people.

So the story of Neith and her connection to weaving and spiders reflects the ancient Egyptians’ beliefs about the power of creation and the importance of preserving life and the afterlife. Through her association with the shroud of Osiris and the first spider, Neith became a powerful and revered goddess who was worshiped for thousands of years in ancient Egypt. And through their close association with Neith, spiders were seen as sacred and powerful creatures that embodied the essence of creation and life. In fact, Neith’s granddaughter, Hathor, the daughter of Ra, inherited Neith’s association with spiders. Hathor was considered a nurturing and protective goddess, who was associated with the cycle of birth, life, and death. Hathor was often depicted as a cow-headed goddess, which symbolized her connection to fertility, motherhood, and nourishment. In some representations, she was shown with a spider or spider web on her head or even as a spider goddess. This connection to spiders was thought to symbolize the creation of life and the importance of the spider's role in weaving the fabric of the universe. Which meant that spiders were seen as symbols of fertility and creation, and their intricate webs were believed to represent the goddess's power to bring life into the world. Overall, spiders were considered to be important creatures in ancient Egyptian culture, and were respected for their symbolic significance and their association with powerful goddesses. Through their association with Neith and Hathor, spiders were seen as sacred and powerful creatures that embodied the essence of creation and life for the ancient Egyptian people, and not the terrifying and scary creatures they are often portrayed as in our current cultures.

If you've enjoyed these stories about Neath and the spider my friend Laura at Gray Ghost Creations has drawn a beautiful piece of artwork depicting a Chaetopelma olivaceum, or the Middle East black tarantula, alongside a beautiful depiction of Neath these limited edition prints are available right now in her Etsy store that I will have linked Down Below in the description and the pinned comment as always I appreciate you watching subscribe if you want to see more thanks for buying tarantula Collective merchandise and I will see you next time