Neith is the Egyptian goddess associated with weaving, war, and hunting.
Neith is one of ancient Egypt’s earliest attested deities, with evidence of worship dating to the Naqada II period, around 3600–3350 BCE. Her principal cult center was Sais in the Nile Delta. Artists commonly showed her wearing the Red Crown of Lower Egypt and carrying a bow and arrows; two crossed bows formed her distinctive emblem.
Her martial identity came from her association with archery, warfare, and hunting, while her connection with weaving linked her to textiles and the linen wrappings used in mummification. In some creation traditions, Neith was also a primordial creator who brought the world into being from the waters of Nun and maintained it by reweaving it on her loom.
Neith is sometimes confused with Hathor or Isis because all three could have maternal and funerary roles. The goddess Tayt had a more specialized connection with textiles, but Neith is the canonical answer for this combination of weaving, war, and hunting. Greek writers later identified Neith with Athena.