During the reign of Ptolemy XII a temple was built at Athribis in Upper Egypt, which was dedicated to Min, Repyt and the child Kolanthes. Work to embellish the temple continued under several Roman emperors.
The translation of this 'morning hymn' is adapted from C. Leitz, "Ein Hymnus an den Kindgott Kolanthes in Athribis" ( JPG ). The hymn seems to have been compiled from various sources, which has led to some inconsistencies, such as switching between the second person and the third person when referring to the god.
There is also a Hymn to Repyt at Athribis, which is available online, edited and translated into German by C. Leitz, "Der grosse Repithymnus im Tempel von Athribis" ( JPG ). It was probably inscribed during the reign of Tiberius. One section of it is shown at B below, in connection with the Hymn to Kolanthes.
[A] May you fully awaken, may you be fully rejuvenated again, B O magnificent child of the Magnificent and Mighty one, excellent child of the Lord of All.
C When Rê sees you, he yields his throne to you.
D . . . . . . the South with all life, endurance, and power with them.
E Nekhbet has appeared upon your head, rejoicing in her favourite place, adorning your brow. Wadjet, the mistress of pr-wr, the ruler of pr-nsr, the cobra, is joined to your crown, while joining . . . . . .
F You give instructions to the great college. The gods of the snwt-sanctuary stretch their arms behind you when you appear in the sky. Your father Tatenen bestows his dominion upon you in its full extent. Geb, in his authority, gives you all life and power as your share.. . . . who renews the annals (?). May he grant you millions and hundreds of thousands of sed-festivals with years full of victory and strength.
G You have illuminated the Two Lands, so that day dispels the total darkness. You have driven out the gloom and shone upon the earth . . . . for (?) the moon during the night, whose form is the form of his father's presence . . . .
H The magnificent child of whom the name is hidden,
the one with a perfect face of gold,
the one with a pure seat,
who lights the night for the underworld,
the one with outstretched legs,
the one with a long beard,
the one with excellent pronouncements,
the one with an understanding heart,
the perfect lotus blossom of gold,
the heir to the heir to the throne in heaven,
the one with a perfect throne,
under whose supervision is the writing of Thoth,
the contented one, the lord of offerings,
. . . for every way,
the god of whom there is no equal,
the heir to the throne,
the one with a high Atef crown,
the one with great terror,
who intimidates hearts,
whose power is mighty against the enemies,
the one with great strength,
who slays Seth,
who has no opposition among the gods,
. . . . . .,
the one with a wide place . . . .
I The Westerners praise you, the Resting Ones rejoice at your sight. They feel the breath of air according to your instructions. They carry their . . . . . before him who sails the heavens in peace. The ones in the morning barque rejoice in you.
J The great god, without equal, whom the great Nile god {Hapi} begot.
K You are the king on the throne of Atum. You have ruled on the throne of Rê, L you are the bearer of the two cobras of Buto, with whom I unite . . . . .
M . . . in your hand . . . . . . in the pr-nsr. Your shrine is at the entrance of the wryt-hall. You carried away the heads of your enemies. You seized the legacy of Shu and the kingship of Geb. Behold, your whole name extends to the circumference of the sun's disk, with your commands . . .
N May they give you what comes forth from among them.
O The heavens rejoice in your favour because of your strength, and the whole of the Two Lands feels your dread. The bas unite in the palace at the sight of you. All the bas are overwhelmed with jubilation for you. To you comes Punt with its . . . and the land of gods is by your ka. All the magnificent jewels of every foreign land are collected for you at your temple. They have gazed upon you like Rê, who covers of the Two Lands with his rays, who makes the marshlands shine with . . . The Two Lands appear . . . for you. The gods and goddesses rejoice at the sight of you by day . . . with you.
P Your body is exalted like Tatenen. You have taken the double crown like Atum. You are high with your wind like Shu. Your red crown is placed for you on your head as for the Lord of All.
Q The barque of the crew sails in your favourable wind when you set in Nun . . . at the sight of you. To you comes every product of the heavens that you created for the sun disk, after you found the day. Darkness came into being after you traversed the underworld on the body of the sky goddess {Nenet}. You brought forth the earth, which came to your . . . . . . the gods and goddesses. Your hair is of genuine lapis lazuli, your hair is full of myrrh.
R The north wind rushes to him. The gods come bowing before him. Rê rejoices at the sight of him.
S All the sun-people, their faces turned and their arms outstretched at your approach, praise your face . . . I have given his body (?). Shu . . . Atum full of jubilation, when you join with the white crown.
T The eldest who slays the Asiatics, the brave one with the high Atef crown, the living image of the leader of the gods, with the magic of Thoth running through his body, and reverence in their hearts at the sight . . . the followers of Rê are filled with awe . . . U as you live. Your arms are strong and mighty as the Lord of the white crown, you are mightier than all the gods in your form as Lord of the Atef crown (?). Rays of light belong to your face, and the Two Lands are filled with . . . as the sky goddess presents your white crown.
V She hurries to it. She has entered the earth (?) with the great sun disk.
W You have placed the double crown upon your brow. You are exalted in the heavens, being perfect, O god, lord of popularity with beautiful face and excellent form, who began kingship . . . Every land is joined in your power. Your loud cry resounds throughout Egypt. The Pẖr-wr waters and the Šn-wr waters, they are with him when they see him. . . . . . . Rê, the Lord of All with the Ennead.
X Everyone rejoices at the sight of you . . . . . . in their time. Everyone . . . . . . like the moon at the beginning of the month, when the heavens are full of jubilation. The gods and goddesses rejoice, shouts of joy reign within the great temple. Jubilation reigns in the temple . . . . There is jubilation in the princely house. Heliopolis is full of joy. Leaping up is prevalent in Upper Egypt . . . . The place of your birth is in Akhmim. The gods are the protection . . . and Thoth is his . . . .
Y The god with raised arm, who was placed on his throne, so that Busiris was full of joy, in whom the kingship of Geb remains permanently, Kolanthes, the child, the son of Isis and Osiris, the protector, who raises up . . . the Great One, whom Geb, his father, embraced, . . . the king of Upper and Lower Egypt Onnophris, the justified one, for whom there is jubilation in heaven, on earth, and in the underworld (?), the guardian (?) who is placed on earth, Rê, who is in . . ., the god.
Z Heaven is at peace. The Mother of the Gods rejoices. The heart of the magnificent child, who traverses all lands, is gladdened. Jubilation reigns in the great house of the Lord of All. The bas of Heliopolis are gathered in Heliopolis, the magnificent hiding place (?).
AA Be glad in your hearts. All Egypt is in his presence. Kolanthes, the child, appears as a magnificent child. He rises like Shu to illuminate the land each day. The land celebrates a festival, its people are full of joy, . . . is full of shouts and jubilation. Akhmim is full of jubilation. The Temple of the Magnificent One mis full of joy. Everyone is united when your hearts are glad, you great ones of Egypt . . . . . .
BB The emerging god, who has associated himself with joy: May he grant that a long reign continues according to his will for the King of Upper and Lower Egypt, the Lord of the Two Lands Ptolemy XII, the son of Re, the Lord of Crowns Ptolemy XII.
[B] { Section 3 of the Hymn to Repyt }
. . . see, by being born in Akhmim, the Uraeus, . . . Horus [with?] her perfection.
The Lady of Rechit, the Lady of the Two Lands, the Ruler on the perimeter of the sun disk.
The female falcon, the magnificent and mighty one, who is amidst . . . after she has given birth to her son Kolanthes the Child as a rejuvenated one.
The Rising One, the Leading One, the Cobra of Horus, who directs her flames against his enemy.
Rʿt, who sends forth rays like the god of the horizon, who illuminates the earth with her shining eyes.
The Unifying One (?), the Lady of Purification in Nun, who protects her son as his mother-pillar.
Hathor, the Lady of Wadjet {10th Upper Egyptian nome}, the Eye of Rê in the Magnificent Chapel, the Lady of Praise, the Presiding One of the place . . .
The Mistress of Power, who brings down the wicked, who burns the wretched Nubian in agony . . .
. . .
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