Neith Sais: Egyptian or Libyan goddess?
W.F. Tomashevich
There is no doubt in ancient and modern Egyptological literature that the Lady of Sais represents a very ancient cult. However, the problem of determining its location still raises controversy. In cases, the worship of Neith goes back to Libya. In order to solve the problem, we have to go back to the oldest sources. The data provided by Greek and Roman books and Libyan ethnographic materials must be treated with caution, because the appearance of Neith has undergone significant change during its long history.
What is the connection between Sayida Sais, a city in the western Delta, and Libya? Let us put aside the hypothetical theories of scholars of ancient Egyptian studies in the late nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century, who claimed that the Kingdom of Sais was “Libyan” in character, and return to the sources.
Neith is mentioned in the oldest sources. The lack of a generally accepted translation of its name does not prove its non-Egyptian origin. The earliest symbol of Neith was a pair of curved arrows (later placed on a pedestal, in some cases together with a shield). The sources say nothing about the connection between the symbol and Libya. A new symbol appeared in the Early Kingdom (Gardner, List of Symbols, R-24), taken from the Libyans, according to some researchers. Another valid counter-hypothesis. Reliefs depicting the tattoo symbol of Libyan leaders (the tomb of Seti I, Medinet Habu, and Thebes) date back to the New Kingdom. "Prototypes" of the hieroglyphic symbol R-24 (two arcs connected to each other) are found in early Kingdom records (an alabaster cup fragment at Saqqara, the Meri Ka Stele, and the Bankfield Stele). The symbol of Neith in Libyan tattoos resembles later graphic models, attested in Egyptian sources. The Libyans often took the symbol from the Egyptians in the Old Kingdom. There are examples of the symbol in tattoos that were unknown in the Nile Valley. The Libyans did not understand the code and changed it. It is noteworthy that all other bananas for tattoos are uncomplicated. It was lines and dots. We must also take into account the ethnic and cultural affiliation of the Egyptians and the ancient Tehnu population, which can explain the strong mutual influence. As far as Neith is concerned, the influence was exerted by Egypt. The two symbols of Neith contain hieroglyphs showing various forms of hands, which were never associated with Libya and, probably, were not used as shields by Egypt's belligerent neighbours.
Advocates of the Libyan hypothesis believe that the inscription N.T. Tahnu's Sun Temple of Nyucira makes a strong case. However, this is an example of the religious routine of Egyptians. Areas that hold importance to them are declared by Egyptian gods to be “masters of foreign lands.” We can observe Min in Wadi Hammamet, and Hathor in Sinai. They patronized the Egyptians residing abroad, and ensured the success of the military campaigns of the Pharaohs and the regular flow of wealth into the Nile Valley. Neith was declared mistress of the Sais provinces bordering Libya, protector of the Egyptians against invasions from the west. Mention of the gods: Horus, Set, Ha, Sekhmet, and Hathor in connection with Libya. But that does not prove their Libyan origin. It should be noted that the inscription in the Temple of Nyucira dates to the Fifth Dynasty, and Neith was one of the primary deities in the Egyptian pantheon of the early kingdom. In addition, it is doubtful that Libyan deities would have become the basis of national worship in the late kingdom, when Egyptian culture was dominated by a strong nationalistic tendency.
The sources seem to rule out the hypothesis of the Libyan origin of Neith and her cult.
Neith of Sais : An Egyptian or a Libyan Goddess?
O.V.Tomashevich
There is no doubt in the old and new Egyptological literature that the Lady of Sais constitutes a very ancient cult. But the problem of localisation continues to raise disputes. Sometimes, the cult of Neith is derived to Libya. In order to solve the problem, we must refer to the earliest sources. Data given by classical writers and Libyan ethnographical material should be treated with caution, because the image of Neith sustained a considerable change during its long history.
What is the link between the Lady of Sais, a city in the western Delta, and Libya? Let us put aside the speculative theories of Egyptologists of the late 19th and the early 20th century who claimed that the Sais kingdom, was "Libyan" in charater, and turn to the sources.
Neith is mentioned in the earliest sources. The lack of a generally accepted translation of her name does not prove her non-Egyptian origin. The oldest symbol of Neith was a pair of crisscrossed arrows (later they were placed on a standard, sometimes together with a shield). Sources say nothing about the link between that sign and Libya. In the Early Kingdom a new sign appeared (Gardiner, Sign List, R-24), borrowed from Libyans, according to some scholars. An opposite hypothesis is also valid. Reliefs presenting a sign as a tattoo of Libyan chiefs (grave of Seti I, Medinet-Abu, and Thebes) are dated to the New Kingdom. The "initial" versions of the R-24 hieroglyph (two linked bows) are found in the Early Kingdom records (a fragment of an alabaster vase from Saqqara, stela Mrj-ka, Bankfield's stela). The Neith sign in the Libyan tattoo resembles the later variants of graphics, fixed in the Egyptian sources. Most likely, the Libyans borrowed it from the Egyptians in the Old Kingdom. There are variants of the sign, on the tattoos which were unknown to the monuments of the valley. The Libyans did not understand the sign and changed it. It is remarkable that all other signs of the tattoo are very simple. They are dashes and points. We must also pay heed to ethnic and cultural affinity of the Egyptians and the ancient population of Thnw which could explain an intensive mutual influence. As far as Neith is concerned, the influence was exerted by Egypt. Both signs of Neith incorporate hieroglyphs showing various types of arms, which are never associated with Libya, and probably, shields were not used by the bellicose neighours of the Egyptians.
The advocates of the Libyan hypothesis believe that the inscription N.t Thnw at the sun temple of Niusserre constitutes a strong argument. But this is an example of religious routine of the Egyptians. Areas in which they had interests were given the Egyptian gods proclaimed "Lords of foreign lands". We can note Min in Wady-Hammamat, Hathor on the Sinai. They were guardians of the Egyptians staying abroad, guaranteed successful military campaigns of the pharaohs, and the regular inflow of wealth to the Nile Valley. Neith as the Lady of the Sais nomes bordering on Libya, was claimed to protect the Egyptians against invasions from the west. The following gods are mentioned in connection with Libya : Horus, Seth, Ha, Sekhmet and Hathor. But this does not prove their Libyan origin. It should be noted, that the inscription in the Niusserre temple is dated to the V Dynasty, and Neith was one of the major goddesses in the Egyptian pantheon already in the Early Kingdom. In addition, it is very doubtful that the Libyan goddess could make a national cult in the Late Kingdom, when the Egyptian culture was dominated by a strong national sentiment.
It seems that the sources repudiate the hypothesis of the Libyan origin of Neith and her cult.