Station D1

First sanctuary D 1

The name of this first of three sanctuaries is unknown, but it was probably dedicated to the child god of Athribis with the non-Egyptian name Kolanthes. On the west wall in the first register there is a podium for a portable bark or a shrine, the right carrier beam of which is still visible. This representation is part of a unique scene found nowhere else in Egypt: the presentation of the papyrus thicket of Khemmis. This indicates a connection with the protector deities at the entrance of this room.

On both sides of the door to the north is a scene with a breast feeding goddess. On the left, the king presents a milk offering to the lion-headed goddess Repit who breast feeds her son Kolanthes. On the right the kings looks to Isis and her son Horus. Behind each goddess stands one of the four midwife goddesses with the name Meskhenet. The king wears different crowns: on the western side the red or Lower Egyptian crown, and on the eastern side the white or Upper Egyptian crown.

The whole temple is divided along this main axis into a western or Lower Egyptian side and an eastern or Upper Egyptian side. All geographical processions, and the crowns of the king follow this rule.