April] PROCEEDINGS. [189c.the Sun, on the contrary, are continually varying. From the 21st
of December till the 21st of June, the Sun risesdailyin situations
whichare more andmorenortherly. From the 21st of June till the
2 1 st of December following,we observe a movement of the opposite
kind. Thediurnalcoursesof the stars seem to be attached to a
determinate horizonby fixed points; we see, on the contrary, that
the points of the same horizon corresponding to the apparent
diurnalcourseof the Sun are continually changing."
It is apparently in accordance withthesefacts,whichare evident
to simple observation without the aid of science, that in the
mythological texts the Sungod is said to be born in Tattu, An,
Sechemor other localities; which in this connectionare not to be
considered as geographical realities,but are points on the horizon
varyingaccordingto the season of the year.
Andthis is also what, I believe, is meant by the ]'[]]],the
stations of the Mother of the Sun, whichchangeaccordingto the
season,andfromeachof which in turn she "opens the paths," i<j*If the true nature of Neith is once understood,as a personification,
not simply of the Sky, but of the Sky giving birthto the Sun, it will
not be difficult to arrive at a satisfactory etymology.
The nameof Neith has for determinatives the Shuttle Q and
Arrows yC ■ The goddess is frequently represented on the
monumentsas in the act of shooting or holding a bow andarrows.
Andshe is described in a canonical text,publishedby Brugsch,t
as "fitting her arrow to her bow, andoverthrowingthe adversaries "
of Osiris " daily." Between shuttle and shoot the connection is
manifestin all our northern languages. Theshuttleis sliot.
The Wasp \@£., which has Nat for one of its names, has
evidentlythe same originalmeaning. Its sting is the arrow which
it darts. It is 'the Shooter.'
Neith,Nait,signifies" she who shooteth,"») Tofonys,
TheancientEgyptianconceptionis preserved in the Coptic verb
nex,ItOX,correspondingto the Greek fidWeiv,plineiv. rt62CCIJA.£,* See picture in Lanzone, Dizionario,p. 443, and plates 175,2, and 177, 3.
t Diet. Gcogr.,p. 1 064, line 63, 64.
3S1