|
Zau (Sais)'s District of
Temple of Nit and Environs
Heri-tep a'a:
Position is currently vacant
Nit (Neith): Warrior, Weaver, Mother, Creator. This is the repose of the Temple of Nit, and also the surrounding community of residents of Zau.
The Goddess Nit: Nit, known as Neith in Greek, was one of the Netjer with a long and historic past, dating back to pre-Dynastic times. There appears to be a shrine devoted to her that dates to the reign of Aha, in the First Dynasty, and there are some indications she was known in early Lybia. She appeared to grow out of favor for a few dynasties, but by the Fifth Dynasty, Userkaf seems to have brought her back. Gradually, however, she lost importance again until the era of Ramesses II. She was also extremely important during the era when the throne sat at Zau. Her roles as a goddess were many: She was a creator - the only known female creator divinity. At some point she is named the "Great Flood", and by Merenptah's time, she was to be a creative force there at the beginning of time, and in some accounts, created people. Nit was also a warrior goddess, what with those bows and arrows and occasional harpoons. This may fit in with her protective role towards rulers and towards the god, Re. She's also a goddess of Lower Egypt itself, hence the red crown, athough she had her adherents in Upper Egypt. She was also a mother goddess, having invented birth according to a 6th century BCE document. Nit was the mother of Sobek, the crocodile god, and this was recorded as so by the Old Kingdom times. Until late dynastic times, she is not regarded as any god's consort; at that point she is come in some regions to be seen as Khnum's consort. Like so many other of the netjer, Nit also had funerary and afterlife connections. She is associated with the canopic guardian of the stomach, Duamutef. Finally, we can also consider Nit as a patron of weaving. having invented it. She is associated with the linens and bandages used to wrap the dead.
Myths of Nit: Nit figured in one of the confrontations between Horus and Set. An assemblage of the Ennead had been called, to settle the conflicting accusations between those two deities, so that it could be determined which of the two was the proper heir to the throne. Horus, it was decided, was in the right on the matter, but suddenly the main creator god, Amun, appeared, and demanded that the Ennead not make decisions without him. He was hoping Set would win; Set would provide him with extra power. To settle the impasse, other gods were called in. Ptah and Mendes both declined to judge, weasling their way out of this by stating they didn't know enough about the matter. So, they turned to Nit, writing her a letter. Being a warrior type, she was blunt in response. Horus should rightfully get the throne, and Set should be compensated in order to solve the matter once and for all. This was agreeable to most everyone except Amun and probably Set, and so the wrangling continued until Osiris found an effective threat by which to stop it. In another tale, the sisters Aset (Isis) and Nebt-Het (Nepthys )were imprisoned by Set and made to weave. She was able to convince Set to let her own weavers replace those two goddesses at that task. Representations of Nit: In the earliest of times the goddess was represented with two arrows, crossed, and on a staff. In the early Dynastic period she is depicted in human form, with crossed arrows on her head, and no crown. However, by the Fifth Dynasty, she is depicted wearing the Red Crown of Lower Egypt. After this, she could be seen carrying either weaponry or the ankh and staff. On occasion, she bore the weaver's spindle. Animal forms she sometimes took on later in Egyptian history include the cow or a snake/cobra, the latter in her role as protector of Pharaoh. She also was depicted as a Nile perch, because it is said she took to the Nile to swim. Her feastdays included the Festival of the Lighting of Fires of Nit (circa September 13), the Festival of Lights as Nit Goes Forth from Zau (circa January 19th), and the Going Forth of Neith Along the River (circa May 10th). Dates are only approximate and are based on educated guesses which may be off. The Temple of Nit: Sa el-Hagar means Stones of Zau in Arabic - at one point this delta site was flush with buildings, temples, palaces and residences. Much is now gone or buried, and the remaining archaeology at Zau is only now beginning to be explored. We do not know what the temple looked like, but we can make some reasonable guesses. (residence & temple map will go here) Nit also had temples in Iunyt (2nd Sepat, Upper Egypt), Naukratis (7th Sepat, Lower Egypt), and there's evidence of one in the 4th Sepat of Lower Egypt. Other Important Temples at Zau:
The Surrounding Community: Immediately outside the Temple lies the residences of the caretakers and priests of the Temple, along with their staff: acolytes, musicians, dancers, cooks, and others. Zau itself was an important port during the prime of its settlement, and especially during the era when the seat of power was here (24th & 26th Dynasties), it was home to many dignitaries and their entourages. Merchants resided here, along with dockworkers, fisherfolk, brewers and bakers. Whether or not the city was politically of importance, it remained an important locus of trade. During the later eras, an influx of people from around the Mediterranean spiced up the culture, which was far from insular. Unfortunately the Delta location means that many important artifacts of the time are lost today. Perhaps, though, this provides us residents of the current Zau the opportunity for educated creative ingenuity. Source Material: Demitri Meeks and Christine Favard-Meeks, Daily Life of the Egyptian Gods.
1993. Cornell University Press, ISBN 0-8014-8248-8.
 Senbit Anedjib 
The Articles of Temple of Nit and Environs:
Sort by: Featured Date | |
The Discussions of Temple of Nit and Environs:
|
