Timeless Myths Logo
Aphrodite Apollo Ares Artemis Athena Atlas Coeus Crius Cronus Demeter Dionysus Gaia Hades Hephaestus Hera Hermes Hestia Hyperion Iapetus Mnemosyne Oceanus Phobos Phoebe Poseidon Prometheus Rhea Tethys Themis Uranus Zeus
Bacchus Ceres Diana Juno Jupiter Mars Mercury Minerva Neptune Pluto Venus Vesta Vulcan
Amun Anubis Aten Atum Babi Bastet Bes Geb Hapi hathor heqet Horus Isis Khepri Khnum Khonsu Maat Nephthys Nut Osiris Ptah Ra Seshat Seth Shu Sobek Thoth
Alfheim Baldur Freya Freyr Frigg Heimdallr Helheim Idun Jotunheim Loki Nerthus Njord Odin Thor Tyr
Aengus Arawn Badb Brigid Cailleach Ceridwen Cernunnos Cu Chulainn Dagda Danu Gwydion Herne the Hunter Lugh Medb Morrigan Neit Nuada Taliesin Taranis
Chalchiuhtlicue Coatlicue Huitzilopochtli Mictlantecuhtli Mixcoatl Ometeotl Quetzalcoatl Tezcatlipoca Tlaloc Tonatiuh Xipe Totec Xochiquetzal Xolotl
Amaterasu Ame no Uzume Benzaiten Bishamonten Daikokuten Ebisu Fujin Fukurokuju Inari Izanagi Kagutsuchi Raijin Susanoo Tsukuyomi
Caishen Cangjie Dragon King Eight Immortals Erlang Shen Fuxi Guanyin Hou Yi Huxian Jade Emperor King Yama Leizi Lu-ban Mazu Nezha Nuwa Pangu Shennong Sun Wukong Xiwangmu Yue Lao Zhong Kui
Norse Classical Celtic Arthurian
Literature Stories Names
Aphrodite Apollo Ares Artemis Athena Atlas Coeus Crius Cronus Demeter Dionysus Gaia Hades Hephaestus Hera Hermes Hestia Hyperion Iapetus Mnemosyne Oceanus Phobos Phoebe Poseidon Prometheus Rhea Tethys Themis Uranus Zeus
Bacchus Ceres Diana Juno Jupiter Mars Mercury Minerva Neptune Pluto Venus Vesta Vulcan
Amun Anubis Aten Atum Babi Bastet Bes Geb Hapi hathor heqet Horus Isis Khepri Khnum Khonsu Maat Nephthys Nut Osiris Ptah Ra Seshat Seth Shu Sobek Thoth
Alfheim Baldur Freya Freyr Frigg Heimdallr Helheim Idun Jotunheim Loki Nerthus Njord Odin Thor Tyr
Aengus Arawn Badb Brigid Cailleach Ceridwen Cernunnos Cu Chulainn Dagda Danu Gwydion Herne the Hunter Lugh Medb Morrigan Neit Nuada Taliesin Taranis
Chalchiuhtlicue Coatlicue Huitzilopochtli Mictlantecuhtli Mixcoatl Ometeotl Quetzalcoatl Tezcatlipoca Tlaloc Tonatiuh Xipe Totec Xochiquetzal Xolotl
Amaterasu Ame no Uzume Benzaiten Bishamonten Daikokuten Ebisu Fujin Fukurokuju Inari Izanagi Kagutsuchi Raijin Susanoo Tsukuyomi
Caishen Cangjie Dragon King Eight Immortals Erlang Shen Fuxi Guanyin Hou Yi Huxian Jade Emperor King Yama Leizi Lu-ban Mazu Nezha Nuwa Pangu Shennong Sun Wukong Xiwangmu Yue Lao Zhong Kui
Norse Classical Celtic Arthurian
Literature Stories Names
  1. Mythology Gods
    Aztec Gods Egyptian Gods Japanese Gods Chinese Gods Roman Gods Celtic Gods Greek Gods Norse Gods
  2. Celtic Gods
    Aengus Arawn Badb Brigid Cailleach Ceridwen Cernunnos Cu Chulainn Dagda Danu Gwydion Herne The Hunter Lugh Medb Morrigan Neit Nuada Taliesin Taranis
  3. Neit

Neit

Neit: The Celtic God of War

Neit, god of war, was a little-known god in Celtic and Irish mythology, but that doesn’t mean that he had less than an essential role in the mythological story of the country.

He had no clear birth origin, but he was a powerful god and a part of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the pantheon of gods in Irish mythology. They were also the last race of supernaturals that came to Ireland, and this article will explain how he joined the gods in the battle for control of it.

Celtic god Neit's sword

Read the article to find out how he joined even though he had blood links to the other side and how he lost his life in the process.

Who Was Neit in Celtic Mythology?

Neit, sometimes written as (Néit, Nét, or Neith), was a war god in Celtic mythology, and not only that, but he was also related by blood to the Fomorians. This was the giant race that was already on the Emerald Isle when the gods arrived from the mystical western lands.

Despite his link to this race, he joined forces with the Tuatha Dé Danann to fight for control of the island. That could be because he believed that the Irish gods had a right to settle on the land, and the race of his family members did not.

His name came from the Proto-Celtic word “neit-t,” which means fighting or passion, and his name is very appropriate since his realm was fighting, war, death, and danger. He was a very powerful god, yet sadly, many of his stories are lost to history.

We know that his wives were Nemain and Badb and perhaps even Fea, and she might have been a triple goddess with all these three names. However, there was also mention that Badb was one of a triple goddess of death and prophecy, called the Morrigan.

He was also the uncle of the Dagda, the chief god of Tuatha Dé Danann, and the great uncle of Brigid, “The Exalted One.”

He had a son named Delbáeth. Neit was also known as:

  • The lord of horse breeding peoples

  • Son of Indui

  • King of the north country

Because of his connection to all people, he was respected by the Tuatha Dé Danann, the Firbolg, and the Fomorians. He was a god that also moved through cultures and was known by many of that region, and so he was viewed as a god of war under many names.

Attributes of Neit, the Celtic God of War

This god of war was dangerous, and he was also considered an evil Celtic god, but he cared for his family. His nephew, the Dagda, gave his uncle a sort of shed or storehouse called Ailech Imchell. But Neit allowed Dagda to use this as a burial ground for Dagda’s son Aed when he died. He had both a hard and a soft side, but his hard side would be seen in the battle that was to come.

On the eve of this battle, he had to make a tough decision whether he would join the Tuatha Dé Danann or fight alongside the members of his blood kin who were part of the Fomorian race. It was a decision that cost him his life but also proved the more sensible one, as it brought victory to the Tuatha Dé Danann.

The Second Battle of Moytura

Neit’s mythology available to us is rather limited, but we do know about the famous Second Battle of Moytura. According to myth, the first people to live in Ireland were the Fomorians, a giant race. They were left in peace to hunt and gather as they pleased until Nemed and his small group of followers invaded. However, the Fomorians were too strong, and they killed most of them, leaving only 30 alive.

The Fomorians were still in power despite the leftovers from Nemed’s group. Then, the next group to arrive and settle there was the Firbolg. These groups never met because of their locations, and so they never had a chance to fight.

After a long while, the next to arrive on the Emerald Isle were the descendants of Nemed: the Tuatha Dé Danann.

The Leadup to the Fearsome Battle

Man portraying the Celtic god Neit

Despite the differing myths of this period, the Tuatha Dé Danann were the official gods of the Irish people. Neit joined them, even though he was the grandfather of Balor of the Evil Eye, a Fomorian.

When the Tuatha Dé Danann came to Ireland, they first fought the group of the Firbolg, and they defeated them. After that, it was only the Fomorians left on the island to defeat, and so they became enemies, even though some people may have intermarried with this group.

This was a long-standing struggle between these two groups, hence the name second battle. This fight was the defining end to this conflict. The Tuatha Dé Danann were oppressed by the Fomorians for so long. Now was their chance to finally get a claim on the land they had learned to call their own.

During this time of oppression, the Tuatha Dé Danann was ruled by Bres, who was loyal to the Fomorians. He was the husband of Brigid, daughter of the Dagda. When the kingship changed hands, Bres begged his father for help to fight against the Tuatha Dé Danann.

However, his father refused (who was also related to Neit). But Balor of the Evil Eye, Neit’s grandson, agreed to take over the army in battle.

Neit and His End

Together, these groups met at Mag Tuired or Moytura. It was a fearsome and bloody battle, with both sides claiming their rights to the Emerald Isle.

In the end, however, the Tuatha Dé Danann won, despite the price they had to pay with many lives. The Dagda fell, as did his nephew, and Neit eventually fell as well. It seems strange that the god of war fell despite the victory of the battle.

Yet, it proclaimed the future of the Tuatha Dé Danann in Ireland. He left behind his wives and his children, and they carried their people into the future.

Neit and Other Cultures

Neit is similar to other war gods in other cultures. He appeared under various names throughout the Celtic world, such as Neto and Taranis. He was also known to the Romans on the Iberian Peninsula as Mars Neto, a variation and mixture of their own god of war, Mars, and their god of the sun, Apollo.

However, he was the embodiment of the Irish people in their victory, as well as the feeling of passion, desire for power, and war.

Conclusion

Man as Celtic god of war Neit

Neit was one of the more powerful gods of the Irish pantheon, and his very name means both fighting and passion.

Here are the main points we covered in the article above:

  • Neit was a god of war in Irish mythology

  • His name came from the Proto-Celtic word “neit-t,” which means fighting or passion

  • He was a dangerous and fearsome character, yet he was loyal and kind to his family

  • He was married to a possible triple goddess, and the names that are mentioned as his wives are Nemain, Badb, and Fea

  • He had at least one son named Delbáeth

  • He was also the uncle of the Dagda, the chief of the gods in the Tuatha Dé Danann, the Irish pantheon of gods

  • As a gesture of familial kindness, Dagda gave his uncle a special storehouse, which was called Ailech Imchell. But once Dagda’s son Aed died, Neit allowed his nephew to bury his son there

  • He was related to the Fomorians, the race of people already living on the Emerald Isle when the Tuatha Dé Danann appeared

  • Despite his blood relations, he joined with the Tuatha Dé Danann when it came time to fight for a claim of Ireland

  • The Tuatha Dé Danann came to Ireland because they had lost their lands far to the west and needed a place to settle

  • They decided on Ireland, but the Firbolg and the Fomorians were already there before them, and so they decided to wage war

  • They fought against the Firbolg first, and then the Fomorians. They were successful against the Firbolg but not the Fomorians at first

  • For a time, the Fomorians had them under their control, and they were oppressed heavily by this race

  • However, in the second battle of Moytura, the Tuatha Dé Danann were victorious against the Fomorians, and they staked their claim to the land

  • Niet fell in the battle, but his death created a future for his people upon the Emerald Isle

  • He is connected to other cultures, namely the Romans, and they knew him as Mars Neto, a version of their god of war

Neit was fearsome and bloodthirsty, and he was willing to go against his kin to fight for what he thought was right. He fought for what he thought to be true, such as a claim to settle upon the beautiful and mystical land of Ireland.

These mythical stories could have been written to describe the various groups that historically fought over this land, but even so, Neit’s role in the victory is his legacy. He switched sides and fought bravely, but he still lost his life in the battle, yet this victory was the turning point for the Tuatha Dé Danann in Irish history.

By Timeless Myths

Celtic Gods:

  • • Aengus
  • • Arawn
  • • Badb
  • • Brigid
  • • Cailleach
  • • Ceridwen
  • • Cernunnos
  • • Cu Chulainn
  • • Dagda
  • • Danu
  • • Gwydion
  • • Herne The Hunter
  • • Lugh
  • • Medb
  • • Morrigan
  • • Neit
  • • Nuada
  • • Taliesin
  • • Taranis
Neit

Neit

God of war. Neit was a son of Dagda . Neit was said to have been the father of the Fomorians: Delbaeth, who was the father of Elatha, and of Dót, who was the father of Balor. (This Delbaeth should not be confused with the Danann son of Ogma or Ang...

November 3rd, 1999 • Jimmy Joe
Neit

Neit

God of war. Neit was a son of Dagda . Neit was said to have been the father of the Fomorians: Delbaeth, who was the father of Elatha, and of Dót, who was the father of Balor. (This Delbaeth should not be confused with the Danann son of Ogma or Ang...

November 3rd, 1999 • Jimmy Joe
Dian Cécht

Dian Cécht

The Celtic god of healing. Dian Cécht (Dian Cecht) was the great physician of the Tuatha Dé Danann. There is a lot of confusion over his parentage. Dian Cécht was said to be the son of Esarg and grandson of Neit. This makes Dian Cécht the brother ...

November 3rd, 1999 • Jimmy Joe
Celtic Gods

Celtic Gods

This pantheon is a mixture of Celtic gods and goddesses taken from Scotland, Ireland, and Wales . Their myths were taken from ancient writings and collections of stories. The group of Irish gods was called the Tuatha Dé Danann. Together, the stori...

April 2nd, 2002 • Timeless Myths
Belatucadnos

Belatucadnos

Belatucadnos was the British god of war. Belatucadnos was probably equated with Cernunnos , because he was similarly depicted with stag-like antlers or horns. The Romans identified Belatucadnos with the Roman god of war, Mars .

May 13th, 2000 • Jimmy Joe
Nuada

Nuada

King of Erin (Ireland) and leader of the Tuatha Dé Danann. Nuada has been called the son of the goddess Danu. Usually Nuada had also been called the son of Echtach and the grandson of Etarlaim. He has also been named as one of the seven sons of Et...

November 3rd, 1999 • Jimmy Joe
Nuada

Nuada

Nuada: The Silver Hand Nuada was the first king of the Tuatha dé Danann, the pantheon of the Celtic gods . He reigned for seven years before the Tuatha dé Danann decided to move to Ireland and leave their mystical lands. Nuada was a just and power...

April 2nd, 2002 • Timeless Myths
Dagda

Dagda

Dagda: Magic of the Good God Dagda, god of gods, went by Dagda or The Dagda. He was the chief and foremost god of the Irish group of gods, the Tuatha dé Danann. He was very wise, very skilled, and had many domains such as fertility, agriculture, a...

April 2nd, 2002 • Timeless Myths
Delbaeth

Delbaeth

November 3rd, 1999 • Jimmy Joe
Nemetona

Nemetona

Nemetona was the goddess of the grove or sacred grove. Nemetona was usually associated with healing springs, like Coventina and Sulis . Nemetona was popular in the city of Bath, known as Aquae Sulis during the Roman period, where several images ca...

May 13th, 2000 • Jimmy Joe

Explore Myths

All Stories

Characters

All Articles

Search

Site Map

Mythologies

Norse Mythology

Classical Mythology

Celtic Mythology

Arthurian Legends

Mythology Gods

Ancient Literature

About Us

Introduction

About Jimmy

Bibliography

FAQs

Retro Version

Resources

Timeless Myths

All Stories

All Articles

Characters

Copyright Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Contact

© 1999-2025

Timeless Myths

© 2025 Timeless Myths