ANT 340 / 640:

The Archaeology and History of the “Bible Lands”:

Ancient (Syria)-Palestine.
Notes and images compiled by Gregory Mumford © 2023

Lecture 11:
Middle Bronze IIB-C (Part-3).
Table of contents:
1. Late Middle Kingdom, SIP and early New Kingdom Egypt = MB Age 4

2. “Collapse” of the Middle Kingdom: Late MB IIA … 6

3. The Second Intermediate Period (Dyns.13-17): MB II B-C 36

Overview, the Hyksos, & especially a view from Tell ed-Dab’a/Avaris 37

3a. Abydos? Kingdom 87

4. The Theban Kingdom: Late MK – SIP = MB IIB-C 104

5. The rise of the New Kingdom: Early Dyn.18 & imperial Egypt 130

6. Summary of the Second Intermediate Period 172

7. Summary of main points 174

Instructor tips for lectures, etc.:
(1). Attend class regularly (& listen) …
→ Many clarifications, tips, announcements,
reinforcement & reviews of materials/concepts.

(2). Take notes on lectures, etc. …

→ The act of writing down notes, even with
most course materials and instructions online,
serves as an invaluable aid to one focusing on
a class topic and retaining information better.
https://howtostudyincollege.com/how-to-get-good-grades/note-taking-strategies/
(3). Complete the required textbook
readings, and/or review the ppt.,
prior to the specific class day …
→ This will provide greater clarity and
comprehension of the material, and will enable
asking focused questions where something
may be less clear (in the textbook or lecture).

(4). Ask questions during the class if

you are confused/wish more data
→ The class is an ideal place to ask for more
clarity or further information not contained in
the textbook, ppt., and/or lecture (If nobody
asks questions, the lecture proceeds …).

(5). Complete optional materials:

→ Additional reinforcement, studying & bonus?
 LATE MIDDLE KINGDOM,
SECOND INTERMEDIATE
PERIOD,
and EARLY NEW KINGDOM

Dynasties 13 → 14-17 → 18
(ca. 1773 → 1650-1550 BC)

SIP = Middle Bronze Age IIB-C

SECOND INTERMEDIATE PERIOD
Ca. 1650 – 1550 BC
Middle Bronze Age IIB-C

1. End of Middle Kingdom: MB2A

• Early Dyn.13 unified Egypt
2. SIP Phase-1: MB2B
a. E. Delta Egy-Asiatic kingdom
Dyn. Avaris
Dyn.14
15
b. Upper Egyptian Kingdom (L. Nubia)
Late Dyn.13 (Itj-Tawy → Thebes) Itj-Tawy (Lisht)
3. SIP Phase-2: MB2C
a. Delta--Middle Egypt: Hyksos Late
Kingdom in Dyns. (14)-15 Dyn. Thebes
b. Upper Egyptian Theban Kingdom 13 (16-17)
Dyns. 16-17
c. Kushite kingdom in Nubia
(dominates Lower Nubia)
Kingdom
4. SIP Phase-3: MB2C of
a. Thebans regain Nubia & N. Egypt Kerma
LB1A
5. Early New Kingdom: unified Egypt
“COLLAPSE”
OF Egypt’s
MIDDLE
KINGDOM:
Mid-Dynasty 13 (= late MB Age IIA)
Most likely builders of Dynasty 13 pyramids: at least 3 years.
No. Name Reign length:
(2) Sekhem-ka-re Amen-em-het-Seneb 6-7 years
(3) Wesef-[...] (?) 6 years
(4) Amenemhet V Sekhem-ka-re 3 years
(15) Sedjefa-ka-re Kay-Amenemhet VII 7 years
(16) Sekhemre-Khutawy Sobekhotep II 3 years
(17) Weser-ka-re (Ny-maat-re) Khendjer 4 years
(21) Sekhemre-swadj-tawy Sobek-hotep III 3 years
(24) Kha-nefer-re Sobek-hotep IV 7 years
(25) Kha-hotep-re Sobekhotep V 4 years
(26) Ouah-ib-re Ia'ib 10 years
(27) Mer-nefer-re Ay 23 years
Known Dyn.13 non-pyramid burials beside earlier pyramid:
No. Name Reign length:
(9) Aw-ib-re Hor (I) 7 months
Kings with unknown, or minimal reign lengths: under 2 years.
• Six rulers = under 2 years; Nine rulers = ? Years n = 15 rulers
Late Middle Kingdom: Dyn.13. Late Middle Bronze IIA
1. Ugaf / Wegaf2 yrs Ebla
Sekhemre-Khutawy
2. Sekhem-ka-re 6-7 yrs Byblos
Amen-em-het-Seneb
3. Wesef-[...] 6 yrs Jericho

4. Amenemhet V 3 yrs El-Khatana “Tanis”

Athribis Avaris
Sekhem-ka-re
5. Sehetep-ib-(en)-re 1 yr?

6. Iufni ?
Thebes
7. Sankh-ib-re ? El-Mo’alla
Ameny-Intef-Amenemhet VI Schatt er-Rigal
8. Smen-ka-re ? Elephantine

9. Shetep-ib-re ? Semna
Aamau Hor-nedj-hir-iotef
10.Sewadjkare ?
Dynasty 12/13:-1(?)
North Dahshur:
• Possibly a pyramid of a king called
“Amenemhet,” perhaps representing
Amenemhet IV(?) of late Dynasty 12,
or Amenemhet V or VI of Dynasty 13.
• Pyramid base measures about 40 x 40 m
• It lay immediately south of Amenemhet
II’s pyramid at Dahshur North.
• 1970: fragmentary inscription bearing the
name might equally have originated from
Amenemhet II’s pyramid to the north.
• Hence, this pyramid might be a small
Dynasty 13 construction.
• Limestone debris from its casing.
• Part of its causeway survives.
• Remains unexcavated; 1975 pipe trench.
40? x 40? m
Dynasty 13:
Ameny-Qemau
pyramid at
South Dahshur.

53 x 53 m

probably never
completed.

Canopic jars
found inside
pyramid.

New type of
combined
sarcophagus
& canopic
chest.
Dynasty 13:-5 & 6
Two fragmentary and mostly
destroyed pyramids were found
at Dahshur by Stadelmann.
They lie southeast of Sneferu’s
Bent Pyramid.
They lie to the north of King
Ameny-Qemau’s pyramid.
The pottery from their environs
suggest they date to Dyn.13.
Their exact date or placement
in Dyn.13 remains unknown

Two small destroyed probable pyramids

of unidentified Dyn.13 rulers
 Late Middle Kingdom: early Dyn.13. Late Middle Bronze IIA
• Ugaf / Wegaf 2 yrs Ebla
Sekhemre-Khutawy
2. Sekhem-ka-re 6-7 yrs Byblos
Amen-em-het-Seneb
3. Wesef-[...] 6 yrs Jericho

4. Amenemhet V 3 yrs El-Khatana “Tanis”

Athribis Avaris
Sekhem-ka-re
5. Sehetep-ib-(en)-re 1 yr?

6. Iufni ?
Thebes
7. Sankh-ib-re ? El-Mo’alla
Ameny-Intef-Amenemhet VI Schatt er-Rigal
8. Smen-ka-re ? Elephantine

9. Shetep-ib-re ? Semna
Aamau Hor-nedj-hir-iotef
10.Sewadjkare ?

Note: Ruler with “Aamau” element: = “Asiatic”

Late Middle Kingdom: early Dyn.13. Late MB IIA
9. Shetep-ib-re Aamau Hor-nedj-hir-iotef Ebla
(“the Asiatic son of Hor-nedj-hir-iotef”)

-Monument from El-Ataoula near Asyut

consisting of inscribed block from a temple

-Shetep-ib-re before the god Nemty/Anti.

-Cylinder seal at Ebla: i.e., trade/diplomacy.

El-Ataoula
Late Middle Kingdom: Dyn.13 Late Middle Bronze IIA
11. Nedjem-ib-re ?
(?)
12. Khaankhre 2 yrs
Hotep-sobek-re (Sobekhotep I)
13. (?) 4 mn
Re-sonb Avaris
Bubastis
14. Aw-ib-re 7 mn
Saqqara
Hor (I)
15. Sedjefa-ka-re 7 yrs Dahshur Lisht Nasb?
Kay-Amenemhet VII
16. Sekhemre-Khutawy 3 yrs
Sobekhotep II Abydos
17. Weser-ka-re (Ny-maat-re) Thebes
Khendjer 4 yrs
18. Semenkh-ka-re ?
Mermeshau:
19. Sehetep-ka-re ? Kumma
Intef IV
20. [...]-ib-Seth ?
(?)
Late Middle Kingdom Royal Pyramid Tomb: Tomb chamber.
Dyn.13: King Aw-ib-re Hor
Buried in a shaft beside pyramid
of Amenemhat III at Dahshur

• Reigned almost one year

• East tomb occupied by King Hor
• Canopic box, 4 jars, coffin, etc.
Late Middle Kingdom: Dyn.13.
King Aw-ib-re Hor Late Middle Bronze IIA
• Virtually life-size wooden ka-statue
• Partly gilded wooden coffin in sarcophagus
• Jewellery on mummy
• Canopic jars from niche-box
• Wooden vessels (royal; unique to this tomb)
• Two stelae with religious texts:
a. Large one has Pyramid Texts Dahshur
b. Small one has offering formula
Late Middle Kingdom: early Dyn.13 Late Middle Bronze IIA
11. Nedjem-ib-re ?
(?)
12. Khaankhre 2 yrs
Hotep-sobek-re (Sobekhotep I)
13. (?) 4 mn
Re-sonb Avaris
Bubastis
14. Aw-ib-re 7 mn
Saqqara
Hor (I)
15. Sedjefa-ka-re 7 yrs Dahshur Lisht Nasb?
Kay-Amenemhet VII
16. Sekhemre-Khutawy 3 yrs
Sobekhotep II Abydos
17. Weser-ka-re (Ny-maat-re) Thebes
Khendjer 4 yrs
18. Semenkh-ka-re ?
Mermeshau:
19. Sehetep-ka-re ? Kumma
Intef IV
20. [...]-ib-Seth ?
(?)
Dyn.13:-8
King Khendjer
pyramid at
South Saqqara.

53 x 53 m
Initially had
a sinusoidal
wall as at
Mazghuna,
but re-done
into niched
wall of stone
Burial
chamber
modified
since South
Mazghuna.
Late Middle Kingdom: early Dyn.13.
17. Weser-ka-re/Ny-maat-re Khendjer.
Late Middle Bronze IIA
Mud brick pyramid at S. Saqqara.

South Saqqara

53 x 53 m.

Robbed by
Hyksos(?)
→ near
Avaris
Dyn.13:-8 King Khendjer’s fragmentary pyramidion (removed from S.Saqqara)
Found near “Hyksos” Avaris:
Plundered after “takeover”???

(in Cairo Museum, central gallery, 1st floor)

Late Middle Kingdom: mid-Dyn.13. Late Middle Bronze IIA
21. Sekhem-re-swadj-tawy
Sobek-hotep III 3 yrs
Byblos
22. Kha-sekhem-re 11 yrs
Neferhotep I
“Tanis”
23. (?)
Si-Hathor 3 mn ?
Atfih
24. Kha-nefer-re 7 yrs
Sobek-hotep IV Abydos Dendera
Nag el-Hammadi Thebes
25. Kha-hotep-re 4 yrs el-Kab
Sobekhotep V Elephantine Argo

26. Ouah-ib-re 10 yrs

Ia'ib

27. Mer-nefer-re 23 yrs

Ay
Late Middle Kingdom: mid-Dyn.13. Late Middle Bronze IIA
22. Kha-sekhem-re Nefer-hotep I Prince
Prince Yantin of Byblos may credit Yantin
King Neferhotep as ‘overlord’? Byblos
Byblos:
Prince Yantin
Tomb stela
= Egyptian
influence
Lisht
Neferhotep I
Yantin sarcophagus

Lebanon: Byblos cemetery

with sarcophagus of Prince
Yantin. = Egy. Influence(!)
Dynasty 13:-12 King (?) Unfinished Pyramid at S. Saqqara: Neferhotep I(?).

Base probably around 91 x 91 m

Most elaborate substructure; a larger pyramid than other Dyn.13
Two burial chambers, with one perhaps being a decoy (King?).
 Other Dyn.13
pyramidions
found at South
Saqqara at
entrance to
the unfinished
Pyramid.
Cairo Museum

One probably
from the
“Unfinished
Pyramid.”

The other may

come from a
subsidiary
pyramid, or
possibly from
the 3rd/new
Scheistl
Pyramid
(SAK.S-7).
(Cairo Museum central gallery)
Late Middle Kingdom: Dyn.13. Late Middle Bronze IIA
21. Sekhem-re-swadj-tawy
Sobek-hotep III 3 yrs
Byblos
22. Kha-sekhem-re 11 yrs
Neferhotep I
“Tanis”
23. (?)
Si-Hathor 3 mn ?
Atfih
24. Kha-nefer-re 7 yrs
Sobek-hotep IV Abydos Dendera
Nag el-Hammadi Thebes
25. Kha-hotep-re 4 yrs el-Kab
Sobekhotep V Elephantine Argo

26. Ouah-ib-re 10 yrs

Ia'ib

27. Mer-nefer-re 23 yrs

Ay
SAK.S-3 potential Dyn.-13:-9 pyramid:
Scheistl noted “sizeable monuments” lay to
the north of Khendjer’s pyramid.
Pyramid SAK.S-3 (partly begun):
A 20 x 25 m rectilinear pit lay 100 m north
of Khendjer’s pyramid enclosure; It had
rounded corners, an eastern entryway
passage, and a fine sand fill within it.
A series of 2 m wide sand heaps lay
around it, containing mud brick debris and
limestone chips. The structure had not
been completed: i.e., incomplete pyramid
3 mastabas S-4:
Scheistl found three large shallow pits
between SAK.S-3 and the enclosure wall
of Khendjer’s enclosure.
Each pit was enclosed by piles of sand,
limestone chips and some granite and
quartzite fragments.
He suggested that these probably
represented the remnants of “elite funerary
monuments, possibly mastabas.” Incomplete pyramid SAK.S-3
• They would seem to post-date Khendjer Could it be Sobekhotep IV? / V?
Late Middle Kingdom: Dyn.13. Late Middle Bronze IIA
21. Sekhem-re-swadj-tawy
Sobek-hotep III 3 yrs
Byblos
22. Kha-sekhem-re 11 yrs
Neferhotep I
“Tanis”
23. (?)
Si-Hathor 3 mn ?
Atfih
24. Kha-nefer-re 7 yrs
Sobek-hotep IV Abydos Dendera
Nag el-Hammadi Thebes
25. Kha-hotep-re 4 yrs el-Kab
Sobekhotep V Elephantine Argo

26. Ouah-ib-re 10 yrs

Ia'ib

27. Mer-nefer-re 23 yrs

Ay
Dynasty 13:-10
South Saqqara newly found
pyramid (on de Morgan’s map)
apparently heavily destroyed.

Robert Scheistl report:

Approx. 53+ x 53+ m
- A central sandy depression,
about 25 x 28 m.
- An Eastern entry corridor.
Could it be King
- 55 x 55 m debris heap around
the depression. Ouah-ib-re Ia’ib?
- NE corner yielded a pile of
large quartzite fragments
(probably from substructure).
- The potsherds from this area
consist mostly of Dyn.13-style
beer jars.
Late Middle Kingdom: Dyn.13. Middle Bronze IIA → B
21. Sekhem-re-swadj-tawy
Sobek-hotep III 3 yrs
Byblos
22. Kha-sekhem-re 11 yrs
Neferhotep I
“Tanis”
23. (?)
Si-Hathor 3 mn ?
Atfih
24. Kha-nefer-re 7 yrs
Sobek-hotep IV Abydos Dendera
Nag el-Hammadi Thebes
25. Kha-hotep-re 4 yrs el-Kab
Sobekhotep V Elephantine Argo

26. Ouah-ib-re 10 yrs

Ia'ib

27. Mer-nefer-re 23 yrs

Ay
Hyksos plundering Middle Bronze IIA → B
Memphite tombs
ca. 1650 BC +/-
27.Merneferre Ay
Ex-situ at
Avaris

Avaris
*. Uninscribed pyramidion
Decorating
Hyksos capital with
the spoils of conquest!

Memphis(?)
Dynasty 13:-11
South Saqqara newly found
pyramid (not on previous map),
probably heavily destroyed.

Sarah Parcak report:

Approx. 53+ x 53+ m
- Distinct traces of a square
structure with a central
depression / non-brick area.
- A clear brick walling system
appears to enclose this mud
brick structure.

- Could it be Ay(?)
BUT Ay reigned 23 years
PROBABLY built elsewhere
(this area had become
exhausted for new pyramids)
 2003 “visual” Quick Bird satellite image of South Saqqara
Dyn.13 pyramids being located on the
available high ground near flood plain,
BUT such land = becoming exhausted: Pepy II (Dyn.6)
i.e., fitting in pyramids where they can.
Shepseskaf
late Dyn.4

Ibi / Aba
Dyn.8

Unfinished Parcak
pyramid 2010 pyr.
Khendjer
Dyn.13
Scheistl
confirmed Scheistl
Pyramid SAK.S-7 SAK.S-3 pyr.
Late Middle Kingdom: early Dyn.13.
Late MB IIA → B
Summary of buildings/monuments:
1. Ugaf Thebes: buildings
4. Amenemhat IV el-Khatana: buildings Reduced
7. Amenemhat VI Saqqara: pyramid? building
9. Shetepibre Aamau El-Ataoula: building program
Avaris
12. Sobekhotep I D.el-Bahari: building el-Khatana
14. Awibre Hor Dahshur: tomb Saqqara
16. Khendjer Saqqara: pyramid Dahshur
17. Semenkhkare Avaris-Tanis:statues
El-ataoula
21. Sobekhotep III Egypt: monuments Abydos
Medamud: colonnade Medamud
22. Neferhotep I Abydos: stelae Thebes; D.el-Bahari
24. Sobekhotep IV Argo: statues Argo

25. Sobekhotep V Thebes: work

26. Ia’ib Thebes: work
27. Ay Merneferre) Thebes: work
Abydos: work
(pyramidion) - - - → Memphis(?) work
Senwosret III burial complex: graffiti added later in 2IP(?) or late Ramesside era
Note: predominantly foreign-style individuals; one Egyptian-style figure.
Probable Hyksos activity in Memphite region:
• Hyksos probably plundering Middle Kingdom
royal tombs & retrieving trophies: pyramidions
 THE SECOND
INTERMEDIATE
PERIOD:
Dynasties (12) → 13-17

(MB Age IIA → MB Age IIB-C)

SECOND INTERMEDIATE PERIOD Middle Bronze IIB-C
Time span:
• SIP begins with abandonment of
Egyptian royal residence & court
at Itj-tawy (Lisht).
• Court transfers to Thebes
(“The southern city”). Dyn. Avaris
15
• Transfer occurs around mid-Dyn.13
Itj-Tawy (Lisht)
ca. 1685 BC+/- (maybe 1750 BC?)

• = After reign of King Merneferra Ay, Late

whose monuments are the last Dyn. Thebes
found throughout Egypt 13 (16-17)
(i.e., especially northern Egypt).
• Hyksos overshadow S. Egypt
Kingdom
• SIP ends around mid-16th cent. BC
of
with King Ahmose's final defeat of
Kerma
Hyksos at Avaris, possibly between
yrs 18-22: ca. 1532-1528 BC.
Second Intermediate Period:
The Hyksos:
• Who were the Hyksos?
• What areas did they govern?
• What was their relationship to
Egypt, Egyptians and Thebans?
& to areas outside Egypt?
Problems:
• Unfortunately, the surviving
textual-pictorial record = biased
toward the Theban victors.
• → We have a biased view against
Hyksos rulers & their Egy.-subjects.
• The archaeological record &
some emerging texts from the
Hyksos kingdom are beginning
to alter this biased image.
• E.g., Rhind Mathematical
Papyrus.
Second Intermediate Period: MB IIB-C
Hyksos = “Asiatics” (i.e., Canaanites):
• SIP+later Egyptians freq. use a term that Hyksos rulers
and officials also adopted for themselves: Aamu
Aamu = Egyptian for “Asiatics” (Dyn.6+ usage; Amorites) Asiatics
(i.e., those dwelling in Levant: Jebel Bishri [NE Syria]).
• The Greek word “Hyksos” is commonly used
in classical & modern works
to describe the peoples controlling
N. Egypt in SIP.
• Hyksos = derived from Egy. term:
Hekau Khasut
“rulers of foreign lands” E.g.,
• Heqaw Khasut appears in MK.
• It lasts into New Kingdom &
= used for all foreigners of SW Asia
(Retjenu):
a. Aamu
b. Setjetiu
c. Mentjiu
Second Intermediate Period:
Personal names:
• Surviving personal names on
objects, monuments, documents, Avaris
& in king lists from Egypt,
reveal private & royal Asiatic
names originating from West
Semitic languages.
• Some Asiatics take Egyptian
names, but are known to be of
Asiatic derivation.Amorites/Canaanites
• Using appellation “Asiatic”
after an Egyptian name.
Archaeological evidence:
• Excavation at Tell el-Dab'a
reveals it = ancient “Avaris”,
(Dyns.14-15 capital of Hyksos).
• Excavation reveals Asiatics in the
city amongst a largely Egyptian
population (late Dyn.12-early 13).
Tell el-Dab‘a
(Avaris) MB 2A-C

Qantir (Piramesse)
Tell el-Dab‘a (Avaris)
 Tell el-Dab’a (Avaris)
Stratum H
Housing
Late Dyn.12 settlement

Avaris

Tombs
and
graves

20% of pottery = Asiatic (Middle Bronze IIA)

 Tell el-Dab’a (Avaris)
Stratum H: late Dyn.12 town.
MB Asiatic-style housing: Mari
“central-room”-style house.
Middle Bronze IIA
Palace at
Mari
Asiatic-style Middle Bronze IIA Tell el-Dab’a (Avaris) Stratum H
burials and Intramural burials; Late Dyn. 12
products.
Middle Kingdom: “Asiatics” (Aamu) entering Egypt (in MB IIA)
and presenting permit to allow them to water their flocks.
Document presented by official:

“Year 6 under the majesty of

Horus, Uniter of the Two Lands,
King of Upper and Lower Egypt,
Khakheperre (= Senwosret II):
Accounting of the Aamu that the
son of the mayor, Khnumhotep,
brought because of the
mesdemet (galena?), being
Aamu of Shu, number
amounting to 37”
Mesdemet:
= black or green eye pigment
= also galena (from Gebel Zeit)
See Janice Kamrin, (2013),
“The procession of Asiatics at
Beni Hasan,” pp. 156-68 in
J. Aruz, S. B. Graff, and Y. Rakic
(eds.). Cultures in Contact.
New York: MMA.
Online on academia …
In Sterne Library …
Asiatics in
Egyptian art:
Beni Hasan
Tombs

Sinai Serabit el-

Khadim temple

Middle Bronze IIA

 Crete / Minoan Kamares
Middle Bronze IIA
ware (“Palace”) pottery.
*Polychrome patterns
• Dyn.12-13 Kahun.
• Tell ed-Dab‘a
Aegean, Anatolian &
Syrian items:
• Dyn.12 Amenemhet II
Tod-temple treasure.
 Tell el-Dab’a
(Avaris)
Stratum d/1

Palace & tombs of

early Dyn. 13.

Avaris

20% of pottery = Asiatic (Middle Bronze IIA)

 Tell el-Dab’a (Avaris)
Stratum d/1 Palace & tombs of early Dyn. 13.
Middle Bronze IIA
 Early Dynasty 13: MB2A Avaris Palace: Early Dyn.13: cylinder seal
“Asiatic” Temple(s) at Avaris Baal-Zaphon: an Asiatic storm-deity
dedicated to Storm-god Baal(?) Protector of sailors
Later equated with Egyptian god Seth

Temple of Sutekh

Piramesse (Qantir) beside Avaris: Late Dyn.18: Temple of Sutekh/Seth

Avaris: Dyn.19 “400 Year Stela” Egyptian storm-deity (Horemheb lintel)

Storm-god Seth as a Canaanite

(Asiatic) deity: Resheph / Baal.
Tell Dab’a (Avaris) Middle Bronze IIA+
Stratum d/1
Early Dynasty 13

Palace cemetery
Tell el-Dab’a (Avaris):
Early Dyn.13 palace cemetery.

Tomb-3: Asiatic-style donkey burials

Asiatic-type contracted bodies
Asiatic-style weaponry
Donkey burials
= Canaanite
feature

Middle Bronze IIA+

 Middle Bronze Ajjul MB IIA-C
donkey burials
from Levantine
contexts
and at
Tell el-Dab‘a
(Egypt)
Donkey burial
at Tell el-Ajjul Ajjul

Middle Bronze IIA+

 Tell el-Dab‘a (Avaris):
Area A/II Stratum G. Dyn.13 More egalitarian
ca. 1750-1700 BC = MB2B
• Palace abandoned (destr.?) Egyptian-type
• Settlement expanding housing

Avaris

Bubonic plague?
mass-burial pits
40% of pottery = Asiatic (Middle Bronze IIB+)
Dyn.13
Dab’a:
plague
pit

Middle Bronze IIB+

Tell el-Dab’a (Avaris): Strat.G. Expanding Canaanite settlement: Dyn.13

Middle Bronze IIB+

 THE HYKSOS:
DYNASTY 14 (Hyksos family tree):
Manetho: 76 Dyn.14 kings of Sais (184/484 yrs)
Turin Canon: 54-83 Dyn.14/14-15 kings.

DYNASTY 15 (The Hyksos):

-Turin Canon: six rulers of foreign countries ruling for 108 years
(the last ruler is Khamudi = Manetho's Innan).

1. Cherek (Salatis).

2. Maa-ib-re Chechi (may be equated with Salatis).

3. Mery-weser-re Yaqoub-El (Jacob-El).

4. Souser-en-re Khyan (Annas; Iannes).

5. Neb-khepech-re (Aaqenenre) Ipep (sometimes Apophis "I")

Aa-ouser-re Ipepi (sometimes Apophis "II")

6. (?) <Khamudi> Khamdi (Manetho’s Innan).

Late Middle Kingdom: Dyn.13. MB 2A
Origins of the Hyksos: Peaceful
Background: infiltration
-Initial peaceful Asiatic infiltration of
Egypt (MK: migrants; slaves; POWs). Dyns.
12-13
Asiatic heartland in E. Delta: MB 2A
-Dense Asiatic settlement in E. Delta Gradual Asiatic domination
(adjacent to N. Sinai & SW Palestine).
MB 2B-C
Asiatic expansion (Dyn.14): MB 2B
-Over 50 years, Asiatic settlement
increased → Asiatic enclaves at
a. Avaris (Tell el-Dab‘a) Avaris
b. Tell el-Yahudiyeh Bubastis Dyn.14 Maskhuta
c. Tell el-Maskhuta (W. Tumilat)
→ MB IIB-C = el-Sahaba
Inshas
-After 50 years, Asiatics dominated
Tell el-Yahudiyeh
a. Memphis Late
b. Tell el-Sahaba Dyn.13 Dyn.15
c. Bubastis
d. Inshas Memphis Middle Bronze IIB+
(MB 2A) (MB 2B)
Early Late
Dyn.13 Dyn.14 Dyn.13

United Divided
Egypt Egypt

Early Dyn.14
Dyn.13 Hyksos
Kingdom
forms in
1
Late The North
2-4 Dyn.13
6-8
11-16
Late MK – S.I.P.: Nehesy: “Beloved of Seth, lord of Avaris, MB IIB-C
Dyn. late 13 & 14: eldest king's son.”
Avaris ca. 1710 BC
King Nehesy
= Nehesy items
= MB Age Asiatic
distribution

Tell Hanun
Avaris Tjaru
Farasha (Heboua)
DYN.14
Maskhuta
Bubastis
Tell Qu‘a
Ghita
Inhas
Tell el-Yahudiyeh

LATE
DYN.13
MB 2B
Heliopolis, Egypt: traces of (debated) earthen rampart …

WEB LINK:
http://www.heritagedaily.com/2016/05/possible-ancient-sanctuary-of-nectanebo-i-and-temple-of-ramses-ii-discovered-in-matariya-egy/111054
Tell el-Yehudiyeh
Canaanite-type
fortification

MB Age type, Canaanite fortification (= foreign!)

Plan of (contested) “Hyksos” rampart at Tell el-Yahudiyeh:
Following J. S. Holladay, Jr., 2001. “Yahudiyya, Tell el,” pp. 528 in D. B. Redford (ed.),
The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt, vol. 3. Oxford: OUP.
For views against the Hyksos affiliation & rampart function, see J. Bourriau, 2000.
“The Second Intermediate Period,” pp. 185-217 in I. Shaw (ed.), The Oxford
History of Ancient Egypt. New York: Oxford University Press (see especially p. 195);
See A. Burke, 2008. “Walled Up to Heaven”: The Evolution of Middle Bronze Age
Fortification Strategies in the Levant. Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns (ss pp. 4, 5, 7, 8, 49).
Comparative sections of contested rampart at el-Yahudiyeh (with Hazor):
Following J. S. Holladay, Jr., 2001. “Yahudiyya, Tell el,” pp. 528 in D. B. Redford (ed.),
The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt, vol. 3. Oxford: OUP.
See also “Yahudiyah, Tell el-”
pp. 57-61 in Ann-Latifa Mourad,
2015. Rise of the Hyksos. Oxford:
Archaeopress Publishing Ltd.

Yahudiyeh (& Heliopolis) still debated (see Mourad 2015: 57-59):

• “Defensive rampart” versus “cultic enclosure”
• Late Middle Kingdom vs. “Hyksos” construction
Tell el-Ajjul: Middle Bronze Age rampart MB IIB-C

Ajjul

Tell Yahudiyeh Yahudiyeh

Middle
Bronze
Age II.B-C
Ramparts:

1650-1550
BC
Tell el-Dab‘a (Avaris): Dyn.14 (c.1710+ BC) MB IIB-C
Egyptian-style
mortuary temple

I
II
Egyptian-style
mortuary temple

V
III
Asiatic-style
temples

Dyn.14: ca. 1,710 BC = two door jambs of King Nehesy (= Egyptian?)

apparently ruling many Asiatics
 Tell el-Dab‘a (Avaris):
Dyn.14: Tomb-5 of “Deputy
Treasurer” Amu (“the Asiatic”)

MB IIB-C

Cultic & mortuary area

Asiatic: donkey burials; flexed body;

weaponry; pottery.
Tell el-Dab’a (Avaris):
Strata F, E/3, E/2

Pre-Hyksos → Hyksos.
Settlement (Dyn.15).

• Expansion of the
town in Dynasty 15.
• Intramural Asiatic
burials
• Male skeletons =
mainly of N. Pal. type
• Female skeletons =
mainly Egyptian-type

Intramural burials; wealthier housing & dependants

Tell el-Dab’a (Avaris): Strata F, E/3, E/2 Pre-Hyksos to Hyksos. Settlement Dyn.15

MB IIB-C

Intramural burials:
• often have miniature offering vessels
• shift in concept of providing for dead
(vessel form substitutes for contents),
adopted from Egypt by Levantines.
 MB IIB-C

Mushroom hairstyle

Yellowish
Tell el-Dab’a (Avaris) skin pigment
Stratum H
Throw stick
Intramural burials
Late Dyn. 12
In pit cutting tomb = Intrusive! (Dyn.13/14 +)
= Asiatic practice!
Typical Asiatic
in Egyptian way
of sculpting:
- Mushroom
hair style
- Throwstick
- Flesh tone
- Garment
A NON-Egyptian, “Asiatic” dignitary in a colossal statue (later broken up)
Hyksos relations with Syria-Palestine AVARIS:
MK: NAA = many northern forms.
(MB 2A)
SIP: NAA = northern forms in clays
from S. Palestine
= northern contact ends
= southern centres with
N. potters & N. people
Ajjul = southern pottery also.
(MB 2B-C)

NAA = S. Pal.

H3ty-‘ Shimw
Count Shimw

Title parallels mayors of Byblos (Southern centres?)

e.g., Kamid el-Loz (Beqa Valley)
Tell el-Ajjul? = mayor Shimw
DYN.15 (S.I.P.) = MB 2B-C Egyptian-
1. KING SALATIS:
classical
tradition of
Later accounts:
E. invasion
- Salatis founded Hyksos Dyn.15.
- He may = Sheshi (SIP seals at Kerma)
- He may = Sekerher (item at Avaris) Memphis
- He may = Sharek (attested at Memphis).

Manetho, in Josephus, Contra Apionem,

= unsubstantiated account of Hyksos:
“Tutimaeos: under whom, how I don't know, god raged inimically (against us),
and incredibly out of the parts on the east men of despicable ethnicity marched
boldly against the land, and seized it easily by overwhelming force without
fighting a battle.“ → i.e., could reflect infiltration by many Semitic migrants
"And having taken prisoner those who were the leaders here, they thereafter
savagely burned the cities and demolished the gods' shrines. They treated all
the inhabitants most hatefully, slaughtering some, and leading into slavery the
children and wives of others.“ → could reflect later seizure of power & expansion
"Then finally they bestowed the kingship on one of their own Salatis by name,
and he resided in Memphis, exacting taxes from the south and north of the land
and implanting garrisons in the best sited positions.” →NO EVIDENCE FOR THIS
DYN.15 Hyksos King Seker-her MB IIB-C
• Perhaps King Salatis???
• Using Egyptian hieroglyphs
• Cartouche
• Titulary
DYN.15 Hyksos King’s eldest son, Yanassy
Son of Khyan.

“Ruler
of
foreign
lands”

cartouche
DYN.15: S.I.P. = MB 2B-C MB IIB-C
2. YAQUB-HOR (YAQUB-BAAL):

Yaqub-Hor (Yaqub-Baal)
-likely succeeded Salatis
Gaza
-second ruler of Dyn.15. Avaris

-reigned about 18 years

-contemporary with Theban

King Rahotep of Dyn.17.

International relations:
-Name on scarab seals from
a. Gaza
b. Kerma

-maintained peace with Rahotep

& 3 next Theban kings.
Kerma
DYN.15: S.I.P. = MB 2B-C MB IIB-C Hattusas
3. KING KHYAN:
-Named Se-weser-en-re Khyan. Knossos
-Contemporary with Theban kings:
a. Djehuty, b. Mentuhotep VII, c. Nebiryaw I. Palestine
-Name occurs throughout Egypt, with some Baghdad
monuments at Bubastis & Gebelein.
-Gebelein text may reflect Hyksos garrison?
(thereby representing Hyksos “placement” Bubastis
of forts throughout Egypt). →
Other options(!):
-Hyksos probably dominated Theban kingdom,
exacting tribute. THEBES
-May have maintained a few key garrisons in Gebelein
southern Egypt to ensure tribute. No Proof
-In essence, Theban kingdom remained free.

-Khyan's name attested on items abroad:

a. Knossos (Crete): stone vessel in palace.
b. Hattusas (E. Anatolia at Bogazkoy).
c. Baghdad (Iraq) a granite lion)
d. Palestine: scarab seals & impressions.
DYN.15 (S.I.P.) = MB 2B-C MB IIB-C
KING(S) Aaqenenre/Auserre APOPHIS I-II:
-throne-names: a. Neb-khepech-re.
b. Aa-qen-en-re.
c. Aa-weser-re.
-Birth-names: a. Ipep = Apophis “I”
b. Ipepi = Apophis “II”
-Turin Canon: 40 year reign. Avaris
-Revived: a. Egyptian administration
b. literary works (e.g., Rhind
Mathematical Papyrus; yr.33)

-Palette: Scribe, Atu, calls Auserre Apophis Thebes

“... a scribe of Ra, taught by Thoth himself ...
with numerous successful deeds on the day
when he reads faithfully all the difficult
passages of the writings, as flows the Nile.”
-Two scribes dedicated shrine at Avaris to
Apophis and sister Tany (now fragmentary).
-Tomb of Amenhotep I: plate bearing name:
Henit = daughter of Apophis (may reflect
earlier diplomatic marriage with Thebes).
Tell el-Dab‘a (Avaris): Dynasty 15
Hyksos King Apophis and princess Tany.

• Ex-situ door jamb.

• Hyksos king using Egyptian hieroglyphs,
cartouche, and titulary.
DYN. 15 (S.I.P.). = MB 2B-C MB IIB-C
Apophis and Thebes:
-Hyksos at peace with Theban ruler, Intef VII,
-Peak of Hyksos power and prosperity.
-Throne name Aqen-en-re (Apophis I) found
no further south than Bubastis. Avaris

-Throne-name Aaweserre (Apophis II) found

beyond Cusae, at Gebelein south of Thebes.
-May reflect Hyksos “garrison,” suzerainty
over Thebes, or an ex-situ block from Avaris.
-Gebelein is quite distant to remove blocks Thebes
from a postulated delta monument of Apophis, Gebelein
given the existence of many closer stone
structures to Gebelein.

-If Apophis’ blocks are not later introductions,

Gebelein at least officially acknowledged the
legitimacy of Apophis’ kingship of the north.
-The significance of the Gebelein blocks
remains debated.
MB 2B-C: MB 2B-C:
DYN. 15 DYN. 17
Hyksos Theban
Kingdom Kingdom

Same
time
period

?
Dyns.16-17
Theban
1 kingdom
2-4
6-8
11-16
DYN.15 Hyksos period. MB IIB-C Turkey
Other imports from Southern Palestine: Crete Syria
(1) Residue analysis from Avaris amphorae: Cyprus
• olive oil
• wine (probably)
• wheat(?) (botanical analysis of weeds) Palestine
Avaris
(2) Items at Avaris noted in Kamose Stelae:
• cedar wood
• lapis lazuli
• silver Thebes
• turquoise
• bronze battle axes
• different kinds of oil
• fats
• honey Kerma
• several types of precious woods

Cypriot products at Avaris:

• commodities in Cypriot containers = unknown (poppy-vessel = opium?)
Cypriot pottery types (WP V; WP VI; Proto White Slip; WS I?; Bichrome).
Other items: Cretan Kamares (palace) ware earlier; Minoan pottery; etc.
MB IIB-C Piriform Yahudiyeh ware jug-type:

• Close ties between Egypt and

North Palestine.
 Cypriot-influenced Yahudiyeh ware
MB IIB-C Jugs in Egypt.
Specific Cypriot manufacturing
technique being used in a locally-
made, Cypriot type of Yahudiyeh
ware jugs: = Cypriot potters at
Avaris.
e.g., handle insertion through body
/ wall of vessel.
 3b.Abydos?
KINGDOM:
LATE MIDDLE KINGDOM
TO
SECOND INTERMEDIATE PERIOD

Dynasties late 13-17

 Late Early
MIDDLE SECOND
KINGDOM Dyn.14 INTERMEDIATE
PERIOD
Early
Dyn.13 Dyn.14
Hyksos
United Kingdom
Egypt Early forms
Dyn.13 Postulated
Abydos Dynasty Late
1
Late Dyn.13
2-4 Dyn.13
6-8 Divided
Egypt
11-16

Theban
Dynasty
 Second Intermediate Period
Mid-Dynasty 13 fall of a
united Middle Kingdom,
ca. 1750 BCE: Shifts to
royal tombs at Abydos
MB 2B-C

Dynasty 12

Abydos
Neferhotep I ABYDOS: possible late MK/SIP royal tomb.
S.9 Dyn.13 royal-style subterranean complex
in Tomb S-9 at Abydos: Prob. Dyn.13 king
(beside Senwosret III mortuary complex).

Maybe originally = a pyramid superstructure???

 ABYDOS: possible late MK/SIP royal tomb.
Dyn.13 royal-style subterranean complex
in Tomb S-10 at Abydos –similar to Khendjer.
(beside Senwosret III mortuary complex).
Sobekhotep IV, Tomb S.10

Maybe originally
= a pyramid superstructure?
CS.9
King Seneb-Kay (& predecessor Sobekhotep IV?)
interred at Abydos during the early SIP …
King Seneb-Kay and other
Abydene rulers interred at
Abydos during the early SIP
A postulated, separate Dynasty emerging (briefly) at Abydos:
King Seneb-Kay represents one of several rulers buried at this site in early SIP
Tomb CS.9: King Seneb-Kay
Reconstructed burial chamber
with a sarcophagus & coffin …
Tomb CS.9: King Seneb-Kay
Burial chamber excavation …
Burial chamber & painted walls in the Abydos tomb of King Seneb-Kay
Tomb CS.9: King Seneb-Kay:
• The skeletal remains of King Seneb-Kay represent one of the
most substantially intact skeletal remains of an Egyptianr uler.
• The body displays multiple injuries, consistent with a battle in
which the king sustained cut marks and axe blows to his limbs
and skull: e.g., 3 axe blows to skull from above …
Axe blows to the skull of Seneb-Kay
Egyptian-type MB 2B-C
axe

Hyksos
rulers

Abydene
rulers

Theban
rulers
The wound types & angles suggest a battle & execution …
A postulated, separate Dynasty emerging (briefly) at Abydos
 THEBAN
KINGDOM:
LATE MIDDLE KINGDOM
TO
SECOND INTERMEDIATE PERIOD

Dynasties late 13-17

(= Middle Bronze Age IIB-C)
RISE OF THE THEBAN & ABYDOS? KINGDOM(S) MB IIB-C
Late Dyn.13 Theban Kingdom (Turin Canon).
28. Mer-hotep-re Sobek-hotep "VI" 4+ yrs
29. Sankh-en(i)-re Sewedjtu 3+ yrs
30 Mersankhre /Meresekhemre Neferhotep II 3+ yrs
31. Sewadjkare Hori 5+ yrs
32. Mery-kaw-re Sobekhotep “VII” 2+ yrs
33-36. […] […] […]
37. Djed-nefer-re Dudumose I/Djedhotepre (?)
38. Ny-maat-re Ibi “II” (?)
39. Ouben-re Hor (II/III?) (?)
40. Se-[wadj?]-ka-re (?) (?) Dyn.14
41. Se-wah-en-re Soneb-miu (?)
42-43?. [...] […] (?)
44. Sekha-en-re Montuhotep “VI” (?)
45. Mer-sheps-re Ini II (?)
46. Mer-kheper-re‘ (?) (?)
47. Merkare (?) (?)
48. Senefer-ib-re Senwosret IV 1? yr.
49. Djed-ankh-re
50. Sankhtawy Sekhemre
Montu-em-saf
Nykhernefert-Neferhotep III
(?)
(?)
Late
51? Meryankhre Montuhotep "V" (?) Dyn.13
52? Nerikare (?) 1 yr.
53? (?) Montuweser (?)
54? Sekhem-Re-weser-tawy Sobekhotep “VIII” 3 yrs.
55? Mer-chepes-re Ini (?)
56? Soudjare Montuhotep VI (?) Kerma
57? Men-khaou-re Sena'a-ib (?)
58? Maa-re Sobekhotep IX (?)
59? Sekhem-re-nefer-khaou Wepwawet-em-sa-ef (?)
60? Horus mery-tawy (?) (?)
61? (?) Sebekay (?)
62? (?) Khou-iqer (?)
… … …
35-40 kings of late Dynasty 13 (early SIP = MB 2B+)
(MB 2A+): → (MB 2B)
Late Early
MIDDLE Dyn.14 SECOND
KINGDOM INTERMEDIATE
PERIOD
Early
Dyn.13 Dyn.14
Hyksos
United Early Kingdom
Egypt Dyn.13 forms

1
Late Late
2-4 Dyn.13 Dyn.13
6-8
Divided
11-16 Egypt
 MB IIB-C
DYN.16 Theban Kingdom (Turin Canon):
1. (?) Anat-El.

2. (?) Weser-Anat.

3. (?) Sem-qen.
Dyn.14-15
4. (?) Beb-ankh.

5. Senefer-ankh-re Pepy III.

6. Neb-maat-re (?) Dyn.

16
7. Ny-ka-re (?)

8. Mery-ib-re (?) Kerma

Manetho (via Eusebius): Dyn.16: 5 kings of Thebes

reigning 190 yrs.
Manetho (via Aficanus): Dyn.16: 32 Shepherd Kings
reigning 518 yrs.
 DYN.17 Theban Kingdom (Turin Canon): MB IIB-C
1. Sekhem-re-wah-khaou Ra-hotep.
2. Nebou-kheper-re In-it-ef (Antef VI vs. VII).
3. Sekhem-re-wadj-khaou Sobek-em-sa-ef I.
4. Sekhem-re Semen-tawy Djehouty.
5. Seankh-en-re Montuhotep VII.
6. Se-[...]-en-re (?) Dyn.15
7. Swadj-en-re Neb-iry-aou I / Neb-iry-aou [I].
8. Neb-iry-er-au II (?)
9. Smen-en-re (?)
10. Se-weser-en-re
11. Sekhem-re-chedtawy
(?)
Sobekemsaf II ?
12. Antef (“V” vs. VI) (?) Dyn.
13. Sekhem-re-wep-maat Antef-aa (Antef VII vs. V). 17
14. Senakht-en-re Taa I.
15. Seqen-en-re Taa II. Kerma
16. Wadj-kheper-re Kamose.
Turin Canon: Dyn.17 = 15 kings (16? )
Karnak King List: Dyn.17 = 9 kings
Theban royal tombs: Dyn.17 = 7 kings; +1?
Theban monuments: Dyn.17 = 10 kings
Manetho (via Africanus): Dyn.17 = 43 Shepherd Kings &
Dyn.17 = 43 Theban kings 151 yrs.
Manetho (via Eusebius): Dyn.17 = repeats info for Dyn.15
(MB 2B-C) (MB 2B-C):
DYN. 15 DYN. 17
Hyksos Theban
Kingdom Kingdom

Same
time
period

?
Dyns.16-17
Theban
Khyan kingdom
1
2-4
6-8
11-16
SECOND INTERMEDIATE PERIOD Middle Bronze IIB-C
DYN.17 no.1: RAHOTEP: = MB 2B-C
-Founded Dyn. 17
-Maintained residence & capital at Thebes

-Memphis controlled by Hyksos.

-Commissioned renovations at temples of Avaris

a. god Osiris of Abydos.
b. god Min of Koptos. Memphis
Dyn.15

E.g., Stela of Rahotep at Koptos:

“... His majesty said to his nobles and courtiers Dyn. Abydos
who were in his train: ‘I have exempted [the gods] 17 Koptos
in the temples of the [...]. My Majesty has found
Thebes
<my> father [Min to be] foremost of all the gods,
(yet) his gates and doors are fallen into ruin.’ …
I made monuments [for] the gods as [wond]ers
brought [at] their be[hest] ...”

-Extant evidence indicates peaceful co-existence

with Hyksos ruler Yaqub-Hor (Yaqub-Baal).
SECOND INTERMEDIATE PERIOD Middle Bronze IIB-C
Dyn.17 no.5: Montuhotep VII (or “V”?).
-Reigned about 1 year
a. 2 limestone sphinxes at Edfu
b. a stela in Karnak Temple.

-Hyksos? attack against Theban frontier

Karnak Stela:
Avaris
a “I am a king native of Thebes, this city
of mine, mistress of the entire land,
city of triumph [... mistress] of every Town.”
b. “A Horus beloved of his army, his powers
being great"
Thebes
c. “[....] of victorious Thebes!”
d. “... the gods, who drove back all the Edfu
foreign lands, and rescued his city in
his might without [smiting(?)]-people, ...”
e. “... as one who acts [...] throughout the
Two Banks like Sakhmet in the year of
her pestilence, one feared for his flaming
breath [afar-off], who felled those who had
attacked [...] his [fron]tier(?) ...”
SECOND INTERMEDIATE PERIOD
Dyn.17 no.5: Montuhotep VII (or “V”?).

f. “... (as) crocodiles of the foam(?)

does his army come forth,
as comes forth fiery terror
from [...] when the wind is high."

g. “There was none that could stand up

to them (i.e., his army) when Amun is
at the head of his army."

h. “Montu in Medamud [...] he granted

that they return(?) [...] hale and sound [...]”

i. “My Majesty commanded the treasurer

of the King of Lower Egypt ... ‘to record’
... every deed of victory [...] upon a stela
to be set in place in Wese of Karnak
for ever and ever.”
Middle Kingdom and pre-N.K.
temple at Karnak Temple.
SECOND INTERMEDIATE PERIOD Middle Bronze IIB-C
Dyn.17 no.13: King INTEF (VII): = MB 2B-C
-Exact placement debated variously.
-Reigned 3 or 8+ years.
-Building activity at
Abydos; Koptos; Karnak; el-Kab.

Traditional smiting motifs (reality???):

Koptos: Intef VII smiting Asiatics & Nubians
Karnak: cartouche over Asiatic-Nubian POWs.

Theban military:
-Nakhte: “Troop commander of the army” Abydos Koptos
-Nakht’s Abydos Stela alludes to military action. Karnak
El-Kab
Peaceful interactions:
-Many contacts between Thebans & Hyksos.
e.g., Rhind Mathematical Papyrus
= Hyksos copy of Theban original.

e.g., inscribed blocks of Apophis I at Gebelein

may = Hyksos garrison (reign of Intef VII).
SECOND INTERMEDIATE PERIOD
Dyn.17 no.14: Se-nakht-en-re Ta’o I
-Succeeds Intef VII

-Note: He may have fought Hyksos.

-His wife, Queen Tety-Shery,

becomes venerated in early Dyn.18.

-Tety-Shery is later honoured

alongside two other late Dyn.17
royal women associated with kings
fighting the Hyksos.

-Qn Tety-shery = grandmother of

Kamose & Ahmose, famous warrior
kings who fought with and liberated
Egypt from the Hyksos.

-Qn Tety-shery lived into early Dyn.18,

buried at Thebes beside Ahmose.
SECOND INTERMEDIATE PERIOD
Dyn.17 no.15: Se-qen-en-re Ta'o II =MB 2B-C
-Later preserved P. Sallier I records messages
purportedly between Seqenenre Ta'o II and
Hyksos king Apophis.

a. Relates Egypt suffering plague in city of Re

in reigns of Seqenenre Ta'o II & Apophis

b. King Apophis delights in sending insulting

messages to Seqenenre Ta'o II.

c. Apophis sends a messenger to Ta'o II's court,

saying “Do away(?) with the hippopotamus-
pool, which is on the east of the city, for they
prevent me sleeping day and night",

d. Theban king puzzled by demand,

asks messenger how Apophis actually
knew about the hippo pool in East Thebes.

-Psychological(?) tactic to unnerve Ta'o II.

SECOND INTERMEDIATE PERIOD
Dyn.17 no.15: Se-Qen-en-re Ta'o II.
-Ta’o II’s mutilated body shows Hyksos
signs of a violent death: Thebes
a. Axe blows
b. Dagger thrusts
c. Clubbings

-Some scholars attribute his head

wounds to Hyksos-style weapons.

-Most researchers equate his death

through probable battle with Hyksos.

-One scholar suggested that Ta'o II

= assassinated (versus battle …)

-Ta'o II would likely have fought the

Hyksos at Cusae (= border dividing
Thebans & Hyksos).
SECOND INTERMEDIATE PERIOD Middle Bronze IIB-C
Dyn.17 no.16: KAMOSE. = MB 2B-C
-Kamose succeeded his father Ta'o II.

Stela of yr 3 of Kamose:
sums up political situation in Egypt in a
speech to his courtiers:
Avaris
"To what end do I know my own strength? Memphis
One chief is in Avaris (i,e., Hyksos capital), Hermopolis
another in Kush (i.e., Nubian territory) Cusae
and I sit here associated with an Asiatic
and a Nubian!
Each man has his slice in this Egypt and Thebes
so the land is partitioned with me!
None can pass through it as far as
Memphis (although it is) Egyptian water!
See he even has Hermopolis (a city in
Middle Egypt).“

Note: Textual analysis reveals this text may be Kerma

a later New Kingdom propagandistic re-write
SECOND INTERMEDIATE PERIOD Middle Bronze IIB-C
Dyn.17 no.16: KAMOSE. = MB 2B-C KAMOSE’s
-Kamose provides implications about FRUSTRATIONS
Hyksos suzerainty over Theban kingdom.
Sharuhen
“No one can be at ease when Avaris
Asiatics

they are milked by the taxes HYKSOS

of the Asiatics (Sttyw).

Cusae
I shall grapple with him THEBES Thebes

that I might crush his belly, Elephantine

for my desire is to rescue Egypt

KUSH
which the Asiatics have destroyed."

“... as far as Kos (Cusae) it is Asiatic water ...”

SECOND INTERMEDIATE PERIOD Middle Bronze IIB-C
Dyn.17 no.16: KAMOSE. = MB 2B-C
Advisors suggest maintaining status quo:
“We are doing alright with our part of Egypt:
STATUS QUO
Elephantine is strong, and Sharuhen
Avaris
Asiatics
the interior is with us as far as Kos (Cusae).
HYKSOS
Their free land is cultivated for us,

and our cattle graze in the delta fens, Cusae

THEBES Thebes
while corn (= grain!) is sent for our pigs.
Elephantine
Our cattle have not been seized.

He has the land of the Asiatics,

KUSH
we have Egypt.”
-No firm evidence for Hyksos controlling
Territory outside northern Egypt.
SECOND INTERMEDIATE PERIOD
Dyn.17 no.16: KAMOSE. = MB 2B-C
-Kamose rejects advice

-Counter-argues he will ASIATICS AMUN

never earn respect by meekly
accepting Egypt’s partition.

He orders an attack:
“I sailed north in my might to repel the

Asiatics through the command of Amun,

exact-of-counsel, with my brave army

before me like a flame of fire and

the Medjay archers a-top our fighting tops

on the lookout for the Asiatics in order

to destroy their places.”

2nd INTERMEDIATE PERIOD Middle Bronze IIB-C
Dyn.17 no.16: KAMOSE.
-During this campaign,
Kamose claims that the Avaris
East and West bank Tjaru
populations offered their
produce. Heliopolis

-He stopped en-route

to besiege and defeat
an Egyptian official
(Tety son of Pepy)
in Nefrusy, who had
collaborated with the
Nefrusy
Asiatics.

-He destroyed the city walls, Cusae

killed the population, and
seized livestock, provisions,
and booty.
Thebes
-Besieges another walled place
(enemy horses fleeing inside).
SECOND INTERMEDIATE PERIOD
Dyn.17 no.16: KAMOSE =MB 2B-C
Kamose Stela-2: delta campaign.

-Seizes several enemy towns:

a. Per-djedkem
b. Yenyet-of-the-southward-journey,
-Reaches Avaris and seizes.
a. Asiatic prisoners,
b. vineyards and wine,
c. female captives,
d. horses,
e. planks from 100s of cedar ships,
f. gold and silver Avaris
g. lapis lazuli and turquoise,
h. numerous bronze axes,
i. moringa oil & incense,
j. fat and honey,
k. willow, box-wood, fine woods, sticks,
l. all fine products of Syria-Palestine
(Retenu).
-He claims to have burned down Avaris.
SECOND INTERMEDIATE PERIOD Middle Bronze IIB-C
Dyn.17 no.16: KAMOSE. = MB 2B-C
Kamose Stela-2: interception in W. oases
of Hyksos messenger to Kushite ruler:
“Aa-weser-re, son of Re, Apophis
greets my son (i.e., superior rank to Kush)
the ruler of Kush. Why have you arisen
as ruler without letting me know? Hyksos
Do you see what Egypt has done to me?
The ruler which is in her midst
--Kamose-the-mighty, given life!— Theban
is pushing me off my own land! Kingdom
I have not attacked him in any way
comparable to all that he has done to you;
he has chopped up the Two Lands
to their grief, my land and yours, and
he has hacked them up. Come north!
Do not hold back! See, he is here with me:
Kush
There is none who will stand up to you in Egypt.
See, I will not give him a way out until you arrive!
Then we shall divide the towns of Egypt
and Khent-hen-nofer shall be in joy.” pretext?
SIP city at Umm Mawagir in Western Desert:
• 1992 – present John & Deborah Darnell
initiated a survey in the Western Desert:
(The Girga Road).
• In the summer of 2010 discovered a 218 acre
settlement at Umm Mawagir (“Mother of
Bread Moulds”) dating to ca. 1650–1550 BC.
• Theban Dynasties 16-17 controlled the
Western Desert caravan routes, including
a major trading settlement 110 miles west
of Thebes (capital of SIP Southern Kingdom)
• This settlement lay at a strategic crossroads
on E-W Girga route from Thebes to Khargeh
on N-S route from the Delta to Nubia.
• The Girga road was used continuously:
- E.g., MK state outposts: food & water.
- Montuhotep II text claiming he annexed
the Western Desert Oases (W. Ouynat)
- 2005: Pharaonic pottery found in Khargeh
Umm Mawagir in Western Desert:
• The settlement appears to have
served a major W. Desert garrison
containing Nubian troops (Medjoy):
- E.g., Nubian cooking pots made
from Nubian clays & local clays.
• The site also contained various
ranks and types of Egyptians:
E.g., Officials, artisans, etc.
• Buildings preserved up to 3 feet.
• John Darnell & Colleen Manassa
excavated a bakery with a mortar
(grinding grain into flour), ovens,
ash & 1000s of used bread moulds.
• Evidence for a mud brick admin.
structure (i.e., Theban state control)
• Other finds include:
- Clay figurines
- Ostrich eggshell beads
See H. Pringle Yale Alumni Magazine Sept/Oct 2010
Late Dyn.17(?) Kushite attack:
• Recently discovered Dyn.17 (late?)
inscription in tomb of Sobeknakht
(governor at Elkab ca.1575–1550 BC)
reveals that the Kushite ruler …
(a). Gathered coalition of allies from
Wawat, Medjay, Khenthenennefer &
the land of Punt, and
(b). invaded southern Egypt.
Sobeknakht: Sobeknakht II, governor Elkab:
• Strengthened Elkab’s fortifications, Dyn.16/17, Elkab Tomb T10.
• mustered an army,
• managed to repel & defeat the
Nubian invaders.
- Presumably at some point after this attack
Kamose attempted to invade/sieze Nubia.
E.g., Some destruction layers & other
evidence at Kerma suggest that Egypt
attacked and breached Kerma’s defenses
several times during this period.
See W. V. Davies, “Sobeknakht’s Hidden Treasure,” British Museum Magazine 46 (summer): 18–19.
A Kushite pre-emptive attack:
A recently discovered late Dyn.17
Egypt strikes
inscription back
in the against
tomb of Sobeknakht,
Kush (may = allied with Hyksos)
a governor at Elkab (1575-1550 BC),
reveals the Kushite ruler gathered
a coalition of allies from Wawat,
Khenthenennefer, the Medjay, and
the land of Punt, …
and invaded southern Egypt
(see Davis 2003: 18).
Sobeknakht: Wawat
He strengthened Elkab’s fortifications, Medjay
mustered an army, and managed
to repel and defeat the Nubian invaders. Kush
Aftermath: …
Presumably at some point after this attack
Kamose attempted to invade & seize Nubia.
Some destruction layers & other evidence
at Kerma suggest that Egypt may have
attacked and breached Kerma’s defenses
several times during this period,
but it is uncertain at what dates
such attacks occurred.
SECOND INTERMEDIATE PERIOD
Dyn.17 no.16: KAMOSE.

-Year 3: Kamose directed a campaign

into Lower Nubia.
Lower Nubia
-He retook and refortified Buhen
at the 2nd Cataract. KUSH

Buhen Stela:
“[Regnal year] 3 under the majesty of
The King of Upper and Lower Egypt
Wadj-[kheper]-re, [son of Re, Kamose],
Given life, permanence and dominion
Like Re forever!

Construction of the fort which the […]

Great officer of the city made, [after he
found it(?)] fallen into ruin […] the
Nubian(?) […] regnal year 3”
SECOND INTERMEDIATE PERIOD
Dyn.17 no.16: KAMOSE. = MB 2B-C

Royal Tomb:
Equated with a rock-cut tomb at
Dra Abu el-Naga

-Associated with a chapel and

a small pyramid.

-Pyramid = 8 x 8 m; slope 66 degrees

RISE OF THE
NEW
KINGDOM:
Early Dynasty 18 and
Imperial Egypt
LATE SIP-EARLY DYN.18: AHMOSE MB IIB-C
-Ahmose son of Abana campaigned
against Nubia in Ahmose’s reign.
KERMA

THEBAN
KINGDOM

LOWER
NUBIA

KUSH
Kerma
KERMA
LATE S.I.P. -- EARLY DYN.18: Tjaru
AHMOSE (I): = MB 2B-C / LB 1A
-Kamose’s campaigns failed
to defeat the Hyksos at Avaris.
-His brother, Ahmose, continued
battle against Hyksos.
-Inscription on verso of Rhind
Mathematical Papyrus (dating
initially to yr 33 of Apophis)
records subsequent actions (by Ahmose):
“Regnal year 11, second month of shomu
-Heliopolis was entered.
First month of akhet, day 23 (mid-Oct 1539) Tjaru
-this southern prince broke into Tjaru. AVARIS
Day 25
-it was heard tell that Tjaru had been entered.
Regnal year 11, first month of akhet,
birthday of Seth
Heliopolis
-a roar was emitted by the Majesty of this god.
Birthday of Isis
-the sky poured rain”
LATE S.I.P. -- EARLY DYN.18: Tjaru
AHMOSE (I): = MB 2B-C / LB 1A
-The capture of Heliopolis and Tjaru
represent an outflanking strategy:

a. seizing eastern cities and forts

along the east delta to isolate
Hyksos from reinforcements
from SW Palestine (e.g., Sharuhen).

b. Tjaru = equated with Tell Heboua,

a large fortress in NW Sinai,
guarding the route across North Sinai
to Palestine: Tjaru

-At some point roughly contemporaneous AVARIS

with the capture of the eastern frontier fort
of Tjaru, King Ahmose conducted a series of
three attacks against Avaris.
Heliopolis
Geographical relationship between Avaris (Tell ed-Dab’a) and Tjaru (Heboua)

?
El-Kab tomb of Ahmose, son of Ibana:
i.e., Primary source from a military officer’s tomb for reconstructing historical
events in the reign of Ahmose and subsequent pharaohs.
Other checks: examine other private, state, royal, etc. monuments for agreement
LATE S.I.P. -- EARLY DYN.18:
AHMOSE (I): = MB 2B-C / LB 1A
-Capture of Avaris recorded by officer
Ahmose son of Abana (El-Kab).
-Ahmose son of Abana, summarizes his
early career in UE “navy” & 3 campaigns
against the Hyksos at Avaris:
a. fighting in the vicinity of Avaris
b. fighting to the south of Avaris.
Battle no.1 (Avaris-1):
“... after I had set up a household,
then I was taken on the ship,
‘Northern,’ because I was valiant.
…Thus I used to follow his majesty
(l.p.h.) on foot, following his excursions
in his chariot.
When the town of Avaris was besieged,
then I showed valor on foot
in the presence of his majesty.
Thereupon I was appointed to the ship
‘Appearing-in-Memphis.’”
LATE S.I.P. -- EARLY DYN.18:
AHMOSE (I): = MB 2B-C / LB 1A

Battle no.1/2(?) (Canal of Avaris):

“Then there was fighting on the water
in the canal Pa-Djed-ku of Avaris.
Thereupon I made a capture, and
I carried away a hand. It was reported
to the king's herald. Then the Gold of
Valor was given to me.”

Battle no.2 (Avaris-2):

“Thereupon there was fighting again
in this place. Then I made a capture
again there and brought away a hand.
Then the Gold of Valor was given to me
over again."
LATE S.I.P. -- EARLY DYN.18: MB IIB-C
AHMOSE (I): = MB 2B-C / LB 1A

Battle no.3 (South of Memphis): Avaris

“Then there was fighting in
Egypt which is south of this
town. Memphis
Thereupon I carried off a man
(as) a living prisoner.
I went down into the water
-now as he was taken captive
on the side of the town-
and crossed over the water
carrying him.
Report was made to the king's
herald.
Thereupon I was awarded gold
another time.”
IMPLIES Hyksos still retained
control of the delta
LATE S.I.P. -- EARLY DYN.18: MB IIB-C
AHMOSE (I): = MB 2B-C / LB 1A

Battle no.4 (Avaris-3):

“Then Avaris was despoiled.

Then I carried off spoil from there:

one man, three women,

a total of four persons.

Then his majesty gave them to me

to be slaves.”

NOTE:
Asiatics and Egyptian collaborators
change status → slaves.
Army enabling soldiers to gain
wealth & promotion through ability.
Hyksos period citadel
LATE S.I.P. -- EARLY DYN.18: Late MB IIB-C
AHMOSE (I): = MB 2B-C / LB 1A MB II-III city

-After the capture of Avaris,

Ahmose led a campaign
across North Sinai against
the town of Sharuhen
(= Tell el-‘Ajjul; SW Palestine).

-Ahmose son of Abana adds further

information, revealing that it took Tell el- ‘Ajjul (= Sharuhen)
at least three years to capture it
(temp. at least year 15 of Ahmose):
Sharuhen
“Then Sharuhen was besieged for
three years.
Then his majesty despoiled it.
Thereupon I carried off spoil from
there: two women and a hand.
Then the Gold of Valor was given
to me, and my spoil was given to me
to be slaves”
LATE S.I.P. -- EARLY DYN.18:
MB IIB-C → LB IA
AHMOSE (I): = MB 2B-C / LB 1A

-Ahmose Pen-Nekhbet (El-Kab), FENKHU

refers briefly to further military DJAHI
activity by Ahmose in Syria (Djahi). Sharuhen

-This campaign remains undated,

but occurred at some point after
the capture of Sharuhen (post yr 15)
and before year 22. REUNITED
EGYPT
“Hereditary prince, count, wearer of
the royal seal, chief treasurer, herald
[of his Lord, ...], Ahmose, called
Pen-Nekhbet, triumphant; Lower
Nubia
he says: ‘I followed King Nebpehtire
(Ahmose I), triumphant. I captured for KERMA
him in Djahy (Syria) a living prisoner
and a hand”
LATE S.I.P. -- EARLY DYN.18:
AHMOSE (I): = MB 2B-C / LB 1A

Syrian campaign?
Ma‘sara (SE of Cairo):
-Year 22 rock text in limestone quarry.
-Notes use, as draught animals, of oxen
captured from the Fenkhu in Syria
MB IIB-C → LB IA
Faulkner (1962: 98): fnhw = “Syrian people” Syrian
hump-backed
Neferperet, a Hereditary prince, [count], oxen
and chief treasurer, commissioned this Fenkhu
quarry inscription in:

“Year 22 under the majesty of the king,

Son of Re, Ahmose, who is given life”,
Ma‘sara
He indicated that
“... the stone was dragged with oxen,
which his m[ajesty] captured [in his]
victories [among] the Fenkhu”
LATE S.I.P. -- EARLY DYN.18:
AHMOSE (I): = MB 2B-C / LB 1A

Karnak Temple Pylon VII: stela

bears a text alluding to Ahmose's
Syrian campaign:

“the Asiatics approach with

fearful step together, Pylon
standing at his judgement-hall; VII
his sword is in Khent-hen-nofer (T.3)
(Nubia), his terror is in the
Karnak Temple
Fenkhu-lands (Syria),
the fear of his majesty is in this
land like Min“
Byblos
Karnak Temple:
-This stela also mentions the use of
“cedar of the best of the terraces”
for the construction of a sacred barge
for Amun and for columns.
LATE S.I.P. -- EARLY DYN.18: AHMOSE (I):
• Possible renewal of turquoise mining after Hyksos.
• Ahmose may be attested at Serabit el-Khadim
through votives bearing name of Queen
Ahmose-Nefertari.

Serabit el-Khadim
Abydos: Dynasty 18. Ahmose cenotaph tomb-temple.
Two pits (for trees?) flanking the
Temple’s entrance.

Fragmentary scenes of battles

against the Hyksos, etc.

Second, smaller temple dedicated

to his wife, Ahmose-Nefertari.
Ahmose: Battle scenes …
Abydos: Ahmose pyramid temple scenes.
• Earliest scenes of Egyptian use of chariots
Dynasty 18: Mortuary temple of Qn. Ahmose Nefertari on West Bank of Thebes
Dynasty 18: no.1 Ahmose. = MB 2B-C / LB 1A

Royal burial.
• Ahmose’s tomb = undiscovered
• Probably Dyn.17 necropolis: Dra Abu el-Naga
• Ahmose’s body transferred in yr 11 of
Sheshonq II (Dyn.22) to rock-cut tomb cache
for New Kingdom rulers (DB no.320).
• Originally family vault of High Priest of Amun,
Pinudjem II (Dyn.21).
• Placed here for “protection” against robbers.
• Dyns. late 20-21 Theban priesthood
retrieved many precious materials from
royal & private Theban tombs to bolster UE
economy.
• Other parts of Ahmose's burial equipment
found elsewhere (e.g., shawabti).
• AD 1880: discovered & plundered by
Abd el-Rassul family.
DYNS.17-18 Asiatic Innovations in Egyptian military:
(1) Chariots - 4-spokes (early Dyn.18)
& - 6-spokes (mid-Dyn.18)
Horse teams - Dyn.17 horse (Buhen)

(2) Horses - Mounted messengers

(3) Composite bow- Re-curved type

- Triangular type

(4) Khopesh sword- “Sickle” sword

(5) Body armour - Scale plates on

a garment

(6) Weaponry - Socket appears alongside tang

affixing metal to handles
(e.g., spearhead; arrowhead)
Discovery, context, and re-dating of the
Minoan frescoes from Tell ed-Dab’a (Avaris).
• Manfred Bietak found Minoan frescoes pieces
ex-situ (out of context), in debris pits outside the
structures with which they were originally
associated.
• He initially dated the frescoes to the Hyksos
era (= Second Intermediate Period/MB 2B-C).
• Subsequent excavation and assessment,
however, has led him to re-date the Minoan
frescoes from Avaris to early Dynasty 18: LB1A
i.e., the Early Dyn.18 palace complex at Avaris.
 Tell ed-Dab’a:
(Avaris)

Magnetometer survey
of the Hyksos citadel
and later Dynasty 18
palace complex.
Tell ed-Dab’a:
early Dynasty 18
palace complex

Note: Palace F
exterior → frescoes
THE HYKSOS CITADEL & THEBAN REBUILDING AT AVARIS:

Minoan
Frescoes
Tell ed-Dab’a (Avaris): Tell ed-Dab’a (Avaris):
Palace F Palace F
Late Hyksos structure & garden Early Dyn.18 structure & frescoe dump

Minoan
frescoes
One possible reconstruction
of early Dyn.18 Palace F
platform as a “citadel” with
crenellated parapets
THE HYKSOS CITADEL & THEBAN REBUILDING AT AVARIS:
 MINOAN FRESCOES AT TELL EL-DAB‘A:
From early Dynasty 18 contexts outside the citadel (ex-situ).
Comparison of Avaris to Knossos:
• 1000s of fragments from Middle Minoan IIIB – Late Minoan IA frescoes at Avaris
• Minoan frescoes all done in specific Minoan techniques, style and themes.
• Bietak & others argue for Minoan artists decorating palace at Avaris (early D18)
• Avaris frescoes use: buon fresco (background colour)
Secco (later colours)
Stucco relief on lime plaster (vs. Egyptian use of gypsum)
AVARIS:
Minoan bull-leaping
Scene.

Fragment & reconstruction

• Minoan boots & kilt
• Minoan black-curled locks
• Minoan colour palette
AVARIS: Minoan maze motif: typical Minoan motif with bull & a bull-leaper.
AVARIS: Artist’s transmission of scene (Artist: L. Pinch-Brock).
 Tell ed-Dab’a (Avaris):
Comparison of actual fragment of Minoan frescoe from excavation
with computer enhanced and cleaned-up view of the same frescoe fragment.
Tell ed-Dab‘a (Avaris): Recon. of Minoan frescoe bull-leaping scenes in Dyn.18
 Tell ed-Dab‘a (Avaris):
Reconstruction of Minoan frescoe bull-leaping scenes decorating Dyn.18 palace
KNOSSOS: Bull-leaping scene similar to Avaris scene fragments.

Example from Crete: Minoan frescoe

AVARIS: griffin on a fresco
fragment and reconstruction.

• Minoan winged griffins

• Minoan flora
AVARIS: Minoan fresco, runner with Minoan-style scene and footwear.
• Minoan-style landscape
• Minoan-style flora
AVARIS:
Minoan fresco
depicting a
bearded
person.
 Tell ed-Dab’a (Avaris) in Early Dyn.18
Palace F: Recon. throneroom decoration

Palace F: frags. from flooring decoration

Palace F: early Dyn.18

 Early Dyn.18 Palace G wall plaster frag.
found near ramp: Minoan wall decoration
showing lady with double anklets.

Ahmose - Thutmose III

Palace F

Lake

Palace G
 SUMMARY OF
THE SECOND
INTERMEDIATE PERIOD:
Dynasties late 13 – 17
Ca. 1650 – 1550 BC
SECOND INTERMEDIATE PERIOD
Ca. 1650 – 1550 BC
Middle Bronze 2A → B-C

End of Middle Kingdom: MB2A

• Early Dyn.13 unified Egypt
SIP Phase-1: MB2B
a. E. Delta Egy-Asiatic kingdom
Dyn. Avaris
Dyn.14
15
b. Upper Egyptian Kingdom (L. Nubia)
Late Dyn.13 (Itj-Tawy → Thebes) Itj-Tawy (Lisht)
SIP Phase-2: MB2C
a. Delta--Middle Egypt: Hyksos Late
Kingdom in Dyns. (14)-15 Dyn. Thebes
b. Upper Egyptian Theban Kingdom 13 (16-17)
Dyns. 16-17
c. Kushite kingdom in Nubia
(dominates Lower Nubia)
Kingdom
SIP Phase-3: MB2C of
a. Thebans regain Nubia & N. Egypt Kerma
LB1A
Early New Kingdom: unified Egypt
SUMMARY
OF MAIN
POINTS:
Middle Bronze Age 2A – 2B-C:
Egypt’s Middle Kingdom (Dyns. 12-mid 13: 2000/1900 – 1750 BCE) to the
Second Intermediate Period (Dynasties 13-17: 1750 – 1550 BCE):
Political overiew:
• Gradual Asiatic (Canaanite) infiltration of Egypt in Middle Kingdom (Dyn. 12) →
East Delta kingdom
• Asiatic material culture rises to 20%-40% at Avaris (E. Delta), from Dyn.13 to 14/15,
becoming an Asiatic/Canaanite kingdom
• Nubian kingdom of Kerma takes control of Lower Nubia (northern Sudan) & forts
(employing Egyptians now controlled by Ruler of Kush [= Nubia])
• Egyptian kingdom reduced to Southern (Theban) Egypt: small pyramidal tomb
chapels; also some potential pyramid substructures at Abydos (late Dyn.13).
• Asiatic Delta kingdom (“Hyksos”) trades with East Mediterranean, Thebes and
Kerma: Widespread trade and affluence …
• Theban kings (esp. Kamose, Ahmose) fight Hyksos, eventually expel them, uniting
Egypt, and taking Sharuhen in NE Sinai/SW Palestine.
• Advent of empire under Ahmose: Later campaign into Syria
Middle Bronze Age 2A – 2B-C:
• Selected 2IP rulers:
Seqenenre-Tao II: Late Dyn.17: Mummy has many wounds; prob. from fighting
Hyksos (death blow by Canaanite-type axe and other weapons)
• Kamose: Stelae outline political situation: Hyksos-Thebes-Kushites; fights Hyksos
Famous pair of stelae outlining political division of Egypt: Hyksos+Thebans
• Ahmose: Defeats Hyksos; reunifies Egypt; campaigns against Sharuhen & Syria.
• Selected 2IP places:
Avaris (Tell el-Daba): Northeast Delta city & capital of Asiatics/Hyksos during the
2nd Intermediate Period. MK-SIP:
a. Many Canaanite flexed burials; cist graves with donkey burials;
also ); intramural room burials/tombs.
b. Semitic names (Treasurers Amau/Asiatic; rulers’ names);
c. Full range of Canaanite pottery (including domestic types);
d. Canaanite-type weaponry (axes; spearheads; daggers; etc.),
e. Courtyard houses Syrian-style central room/courtyard housing;
f. ALSO: Rampart-style fortifications (Tell el-Yahudiyeh; Heliopolis);
g. Male skeletal morphology (North Levantine types
Middle Bronze Age 2A – 2B-C:
.

• Aegean influence/presence in 2IP – late Dyn.18 Egypt: at Avaris …

a. Unusual decoration appearing in the early Dyn.18 palace at Avaris
(Tell ed-Dab‘a) and its significance:
- Minoan produced frescoes with typical Minoan motifs appear in 1000s
of fragments beside the early Dyn.18 palace area;
- They reveal close Egyptian contact with Crete, including the “importation”
of Minoan artists, revealing regular diplomatic relations,
and possibly a diplomatic marriage.

• Canaanite long term influence in 2IP+ Egypt:

a. Asiatic innovations that enter Egypt in late Dyn.17 - early Dyn.18:
- Chariots and horses (i.e., chariot warfare);
- Composite bow (more powerful);
- khopesh sword (mostly a smiting weapon; sometimes has a slashing blade);
- Bronze scale body armour over linen/leather (high ranking leadership);
- Leather body armour (lower ranking officers);
- Socketed weaponry (replacing tangs)