Neit
In its own language: Néit
probably from Proto-Celtic *nei-t-, meaning fighting or passion
An Irish war god, husband of Nemain and Fea, grandfather of Balor
Neit is a war god in Irish mythology, married to Nemain, Fea and sometimes Badb, and named as Balor's grandfather. His death is placed at the Second Battle of Moytura, and his name is linked to a Proto-Celtic root for fighting or passion.
- A war god in Irish myth, married to Nemain, Fea and sometimes Badb.
- Balor is named as his grandson, and the Dagda as his nephew.
- His death is set at the Second Battle of Moytura.
- His name probably comes from a Proto-Celtic root for fighting or passion.
- Celtiberian inscriptions give a similar name as Neito and Mars Neto.
What it is
Neit is a war god in Irish mythology. The tales give him several names, Néit, Nét and Neith, and place him among gods and battle figures rather than in a working rite. He is married to Nemain and Fea, and sometimes to Badb. Balor is his grandson. His own death is set at the Second Battle of Moytura, a legendary conflict. The figure is known from story and genealogy, not from a recorded cult. His name is linked to a Proto-Celtic word for fighting or passion, and a similar name appears in Celtiberian inscriptions.
Where it comes from
The name is thought to come from a Proto-Celtic form, *nei-t-, with the sense of fighting or passion. Celtiberian inscriptions give a comparable divine name in two forms: Neito, and a Latinised Mars Neto. The parallel is one of name, not an identified shared figure. In Irish story, Neit's death is placed at the Second Battle of Moytura, a legendary battle rather than a dated event. His family ties, to Balor, the Dagda and the wives named in the tales, belong to the same mythic setting.
Neit, drawn and placed
- Living
- Revived
- Fading
- Historical
- Legendary
- Performed
- Lineage
- Irish mythology
Peoples and places
Neit is an Irish mythic figure. The names of his wives, Nemain, Fea and Badb, and of his relatives, Balor and the Dagda, belong to Irish narrative. A separate and similar name is recorded on Celtiberian inscriptions, as Mars Neto and Neito. He is also called son of Indui, king of the north country and lord of horse breeding peoples, a title that ties him to horses and northern rule in the story.
At a glance: who, where and when
Peoples
What people believe
The mythic world around Neit is one of war gods and royal descent. His marriages connect him to Nemain, Fea and sometimes Badb. Balor is named as his grandson, and the Dagda as his nephew. He is called dangerous, and his father Indui is described as king of the north country and lord of horse breeding peoples. Ailech Neit, Neit's Stonehouse, is given to him by the Dagda. Elsewhere Ailech Imchell is said to be in the precinct where Nemain and Neit dwelt.
Compare and confuse
Neit's name has several spellings: Néit, Nét and Neith. A similar name belongs to a deity on two Celtiberian inscriptions, written as Mars Neto in a Romanised form and as Neito. That figure is treated as a comparable name, not as the same narrative character. Within Irish myth, Neit is distinct from the war figures around him, though his marriages and kinship tie him to them.
Questions people ask about Neit
Who is Neit?
Neit is a war god in Irish mythology. The tales name him as husband of Nemain and Fea, sometimes of Badb, and as Balor's grandfather. His death is set at the Second Battle of Moytura.
Where does the name Neit come from?
The name is thought to come from a Proto-Celtic form, *nei-t-, meaning fighting or passion. Celtiberian inscriptions give a similar divine name as Neito and as a Latinised Mars Neto.
Who were Neit's wives?
Irish myth names Nemain and Fea as Neit's wives, and sometimes Badb. The same tales make Balor his grandson, the Dagda his nephew and Indui his father.
How is Neit linked to the Dagda?
Neit is called the Dagda's uncle. The Dagda gives him Ailech Neit, or Neit's Stonehouse. That place is also described as the grave of Aed, a son of the Dagda.
What is Ailech Imchell?
Ailech Imchell is a place said to hold Aed's grave. It is also described as lying in the precinct where Nemain and Neit dwelt, and as a horse country and a stronghold others coveted.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Neit", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryJaadu rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. Names and customs differ from one community to the next, and some knowledge is closed to outsiders and left out here. This page describes belief and practice. It does not say that any of it works, it is not a how-to, and it is not medical advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-19.
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