Avaris

Levi Clancy — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 11:34:04 +0000

Amorite/Canaanite (Canaanites refer to Amorites coming from region of Canaan) center in eastern Delta. Capital of XV Dynasty of Egypt (~1,600-1,530 BC), time of breakdown of Egyptian central control thus allowing foreigners to take control of themselves. This is an Egyptian site with obvious Canaanite characteristics, indicating Canaanite spread. Settled from start of MBA. Largest Canaanite population in MB IIC. Amorite cultural practices: ceramics (dietary customs); burials (mortuary customs) and temples (rituals).

Feature	Overview
Minoan Fresco	The “Theran” Minoan Fresco at Avaris. It’s not like you can just take a picture of a style and then reproduce it at home. If something looks Minoan then it required the skill set of Minoan artsits. They must have thus been at least “loaned out” to these places and suggests a very connected world.
Hyksos Scarabs	The “Hyksos” scarabs were used for impressing seals and also jewelry. But the hieroglyphs on these don’t really mean anything because in the Hyksos period all these things found in Canaan are purely artistic borrowings of Egyptian hieroglyphs. They just want to look Egyptian. Asiatics in Canaan have these lookalikes.
Tots in Pots	“Tots in pots” refers to Asiatic children being buried in same fashion as Canaan. In Canaan you’ll find MBA jars with infants in them dug into the ground. Burial customs are very conservative and do not readily change.

Timeline of Ancient Egypt: Second Intermediate Period

Levi Clancy — Thu, 14 May 2009 12:56:33 +0000

Period or Event	King	Time-Frame	Overview
2^nd Intermediate Era		1785-1552 BC	Egypt’s central government weakened, allowing Asiatic kings based in the eastern Delta to seize power of Lower Egypt and set up an independent regime in ~1650 BC. These Asiatic kings were known as the Hyksos, based on the Egyptian phrase meaning rulers of foreign lands. Hyksos power grew over all of Egypt but was based in Avaris (modern Tell el-Dab’a) and never directly controlled Thebes. The Hyksos strove to accomodate native customs and beliefs, contrary to their modern reputation of violence. The brought innovations to Egypt, including the horse and chariot. The Hyksos was met with resistance by the Seventeenth Dynasty, a new family of Theban rulers whose last king, Kamose, sacked Avaris; the Hyksos were finally defeated and expelled from Egypt under the reign of Kamose’s brother, Amosis, who founded the New Kingdom. Military garrisons in the south become increasingly independent • In the late 13th dynasty the southern fortresses are overrun by the Kerma culture • At around the same Yme the capital moves from Memphis to Thebes
Dynasty XV		1773-1580 BC	The reign of Hyksos kings from the Delta at Avaris.

Dynasty XVI		1650-1580 BC	Theban rulers contemporary with the Hyksos kings.

Dynasty XVII		1580-1550 BC
	Nubkheperra Intef VII
	Sobekemsaf II
	Seqenenra Tao II	~1560 BC
	Wadjkheperra Kamose	1555-1550 BC

	Kamose
	Amosis		Founder of the New Kingdom.

Bibliography

Hamiton 2007, xxiii

Student Reader's History Notes » 2nd Intermediate Period

Avaris

Timeline of Ancient Egypt: Second Intermediate Period