The owl was a symbol of sickness, evil, and death in ancient Egypt. The bird was used as a determinative for the word Hsq meaning to "decapitate". Mummified owls were discovered in the subterranean galleries at Tuna el-Gebel. Owls were named the "keen-sighted hunters," birds of mourning and death and being therefore connected with the sun god Re. By the Ptolemaic period, plaques bearing the shape of the owl might be functioned as ex-votos for a solar deity. Bronze statues were discovered representing an owl beside Harpokrates. Thus, the owl was assumed to be one of the sacred animals of Harpokrates as a lunar deity. The relation between the owl and Horus might be due to goddess Neith who was described to be the mother of Harpokrates. Neith was equated with the Greek Athena whose sacred bird was the Little Owl. Both Neith and Athena were patron deities of weaving and spinning. Loom-weights were sometimes decorated with the shape of the owl. This bird became a main motive on Neucratis coins, which were imitations of Athenain coins. The shape of the owl was found on the "sabakes" coins of Egypt, and Ptolemaic coins bearing the shape of Serapis and Isis.