Christ, as is death and resurrection (). The image of Mary with the baby Jesus on the opposite side places Jesus' mother before the eyes of the baptised; by their baptism she becomes their mother and advocate. She is depicted with the other patrons of the cathedral, Epiphanius of Pavia and Godehard of Hildesheim, symbolising the Communion of saints to which the baptised now belonged. This scene is probably also the donor portrait, since a small figure, whose name is given as "Wilbern" kneels at Mary's feet. This is probably Wilbrand van Oldenburg who was canon of Hildesheim Cathedral at the time the font was made. The depiction of the Israelites, indicated by their Jewish hats, crossing the Red Sea () with Moses, connects the immersion and emergence from the baptismal font with the peril, salvation, and freeing of Israel and through that connection declares all the baptised to be members of God's chosen people, on their way to the Promised Land. The fourth image shows the return to the Promised Land by fording the River Jordan (). Everyone helps to carry the Ark of the Covenant which contains the Ten commandments they received at Sinai. This symbolises the duty of the baptised to the one God and his will, which is contained in the covenant of baptism. The next layer up is the four scenes on the lid. They present the significance of baptism for the Christian life. The image of the Anointing of Jesus by the prostitute (traditionally equated with Mary Magdalene () demonstrates remorse and repentance, as well as the inexhaustibility of Grace and the love originating from it. The blossoming of Aaron's rod () opposite, symbolised Mary's fruitful virginity and the chastity of the baptised. The Massacre of the Innocents () recalls the fellowship shared by all the baptised with Christ in witnessing their faith (Greek μαρτύριον) and the possibility of the baptism of blood. The personification of Misericordia finally, a woman enthroned as a queen, performing Works of Mercy, shows how the grace of baptism concretely effects life. Vertically, the baptism of Christ correlates with his anointment by the prostitute, the Mother of God with the staff of Aaron, the Exodus with the Massacre of the Innocents and the Ark of the Covenant with the personification of Mercy. Narrow columns rise up from the personifications of the rivers in between the scenes, which support triple