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Fifteenth Dynasty of Egypt

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Fifteenth Dynasty of Egypt
1650 BC–c. 1550 BC
Egypt during the Fifteenth Dynasty
Egypt during the Fifteenth Dynasty
CapitalAvaris
Common languagesEgyptian language
Religion
ancient Egyptian religion
GovernmentAbsolute monarchy
Historical eraSecond Intermediate Period of Egypt
• Established
1650 BC
• Disestablished
c. 1550 BC
Preceded by		 Succeeded by
Fourteenth Dynasty of Egypt
Thirteenth Dynasty of Egypt
16th Dynasty of Egypt
Abydos Dynasty
Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt
Periodsanddynastiesofancient Egypt
All years areBC
Early
Pre-dynastic period
First DynastyIc.3150–2890
Second DynastyII2890–2686
Old Kingdom
Third DynastyIII2686–2613
Fourth DynastyIV2613–2498
Fifth DynastyV2498–2345
Sixth DynastyVI2345–2181
First Intermediate
Seventh DynastyVIIspurious
Eighth DynastyVIII2181–2160
Ninth DynastyIX2160–2130
Tenth DynastyX2130–2040
EarlyEleventh DynastyXI2134–2061
Middle Kingdom
LateEleventh DynastyXI2061–1991
Twelfth DynastyXII1991–1803
Thirteenth DynastyXIII1803–1649
Second Intermediate
Fourteenth DynastyXIV1705–1690
Fifteenth Dynasty(Hyksos)XV1674–1535
Sixteenth DynastyXVI1660–1600
Abydos Dynasty1650–1600
Seventeenth DynastyXVII1580–1549
New Kingdom
Eighteenth DynastyXVIII1549–1292
Nineteenth DynastyXIX1292–1189
Twentieth DynastyXX1189–1077
Third Intermediate
Twenty-first DynastyXXI1069–945
Twenty-second DynastyXXII945–720
Twenty-third DynastyXXIII837–728
Twenty-fourth DynastyXXIV732–720
Twenty-fifth Dynasty(Nubian)XXV732–653
Late Period
Twenty-sixth DynastyXXVI672–525
XXVII525–404
Twenty-eighth DynastyXXVIII404–398
Twenty-ninth DynastyXXIX398–380
Thirtieth DynastyXXX380–343
XXXI343–332
Hellenistic Egypt
Thirty-second DynastyXXXII332–305
Thirty-third DynastyXXXIII305–30
Roman Egypt
XXXIV30 BC – 313 AD

TheFifteenth Dynastywas a foreign dynasty ofancient Egypt.It was founded bySalitis,aHyksosfrom West Asia whose people had invaded the country and conqueredLower Egypt.[1]The 15th, 16th, and 17th Dynasties of ancient Egypt are often combined under the group title,Second Intermediate Period.The 15th Dynasty dates approximately from 1650 to 1550 BC.[2][3]

Dynastic history[edit]

The kings of the Fifteenth Dynasty are said to have beenCanaanite.[4]PharaohKamoseis known to have referred toApophis,one of the kings of the dynasty, as "Chieftain of Retjenu (i.e.Caanan) ".[5][6]The kings of the Fifteenth Dynasty formed "the second Asiatic Kingdom in the Delta", covering an area which may have included Canaan itself, although the archaeological record is sparse.[7][8]The dynasty probably lasted for a period of about 108 years.[9][10]

The first king, also described as aHyksos(ḥḳꜣw-ḫꜣswt,a "shepherd"according toAfricanus), led his people into an occupation of the Nile Delta area and settled his capital atAvaris.These events put an end to theFourteenth Dynasty of Egypt.[4]There is no evidence of conflict at that time however, and the settling of the Canaanite populations could have occurred rather peacefully in the power vacuum left by the disintegration of the Fourteenth Dynasty.[6]Subsequent relations with Egyptian polities, however, were marked with violent conflict.[11]

Identity[edit]

Main article:Hyksos

The people ofAvarisin theNile Deltawere called"Aamu"by the Egyptians, which was also the term used to designate the inhabitants of Syria and the Levant, or the enemies ofRamses IIat thebattle of Kadesh.This has generally been translated as "Western Asiatics" by Egyptologists.[12]

The termHyksoswas traditionally used to designate foreign chieftains, and more specifically "rulers of the Asiatics", already before the Fifteenth Dynasty and also after it.[12][13]It was not an official title of the rulers of the Fifteenth dynasty, and is never encountered together with royal titulature, except in one rare instance in an inscription from Tell el-Dab'a mentioning an unknown king and describing him as a Hyksos.[13]"Hyksos" was rather a generic term which is encountered separately from royal titulature, and in regnal lists after the end of the Fifteenth Dynasty itself.[13][14]In another instance,Khyanis thought to have used the title "Hyksos" early in his reign, and then abandoned it for traditional Egyptian titulature when he invaded the whole of Egypt.[13]Only the first four kings of the Fifteenth Dynasty are known to have used the naming "Hyksos", and after that royal titulature becomes purely Egyptian.[14]

Territorial extent[edit]

Dagger in the name ofApophis

Regular conflicts continued with the Egyptian dynasties to the south, theSixteenth Dynasty,theAbydos Dynastyand theSeventeenth Dynasty,with short intervals of peace during which there were some relations withNubia.[4]Soon after the occupation of theNile Delta,where it replaced the Fourteenth Dynasty, the Fifteenth Dynasty expanded to occupyMemphis,leading to the fall of theThirteenth Dynastyat Memphis. As Egyptian political power disintegrated at Memphis, new dynasties arose in the south, theAbydos Dynastyand the Sixteenth Dynasty atThebes.[15]

The Fifteenth Dynasty at one point, after a period of about 20 years since its foundation, extended its rule as far south asThebes,entering into conflict with PharaohNeferhotep III.[4][15]The whole of Egypt was conquered during the reign ofKhayan.[13]The Abydos Dynasty also vanished on the occasion of these southern conquests.[15]Numerous monuments from conquered areas were brought north to the capital ofAvaris,and many were marked with additional inscriptions, especially byApophis.[16]All of this is contested however. For Alexander Ilin-Tomich, the territory directly ruled by the Hyksos kings of Avaris was likely confined to the eastern Delta and the nature and extent of their control over Middle Egypt remains unclear.[17]

The Fifteenth Dynasty eventually ended with the conquest of Avaris by the PharaohAhmose I.[4]

Trade[edit]

The trading relations of the Fifteenth Dynasty were mainly withCanaanandCyprus.[4][18][19]Trade with Canaan is said to have been "intensive", especially with many imports of Canaanite wares, and may have reflected the Canaanite origins of the dynasty.[19]According to theKamosestelae, the Hyksos imported "charriots and horses, ships, timber, gold,lapis lazuli,silver,turquoise,bronze, axes without number, oil, incense, fat and honey ".[18]The Fifteenth Dynasty also exported large quantities of material looted from southern Egypt, especially Egyptian sculptures, to the areas of Canaan andSyria.These transfers of Egyptian artifacts to the Near East may especially be attributed to kingApophis.[19]Trade relations withCypruswere also very important.[20]

Religion[edit]

The relation of the Fifteenth Dynasty to Egyptian religious traditions was ambiguous, and they are said by commentators from theEighteenth Dynastythat "they ruled without ackowledgingRe".[14]The dynasty is recorded as having destroyed Egyptian monuments and removed Egyptian statuary for booty, as well as plundering royal tombs,Ahmosecomplaining that "pyramids have been torn down".[21]

Rulers[edit]

Known rulers of the 15th Dynasty are as follows:[22]

Fifteenth Dynasty
Name Image Dates and comments
Salitis Mentioned byManethoas first king of the dynasty; currently unidentified with any known archaeologically attested person. Ruled for 19 years according to Manetho, as quoted byJosephus.
Semqen Mentioned on the Turin king list. According to Ryholt, he was an early Hyksos ruler, possibly the first king of the dynasty;[22]von Beckerath assigns him to the 16th dynasty.[23]
Aperanat Mentioned on the Turin king list. According to Ryholt, he was an early Hyksos ruler, possibly the second king of the dynasty;[22]von Beckerath assigns him to the 16th dynasty.[23]
Khyan Ruled 10+ years.[9]
Yanassi
Khyan's eldest son, possibly at the origin of the mention of a king Iannas in Manetho'sAegyptiaca
Sakir-Har Named as an Hyksos king on a doorjamb found atAvaris.Regnal order uncertain.
Apophis c. 1590?–1550 BC
Ruled 40+ years.[9]
Khamudi c. 1550–1540 BC

The 15th Dynasty ofEgyptwas the firstHyksosdynasty, ruling fromAvaris,without control of the entire land. The Hyksos preferred to stay in northern Egypt since they infiltrated from the north-east. The names and order of kings are uncertain. TheTurin King listindicates that there were six Hyksos kings, with an obscure Khamudi listed as the final king of the 15th Dynasty.

Number of kings named Apepi[edit]

Main article:Apepi (pharaoh)

Some scholars argue there were two Apophis kings named Apepi, but this is primarily because there are two knownprenomensfor this king: Awoserre and Aqenenre. However, the Danish EgyptologistKim Ryholtmaintains in his study of theSecond Intermediate Periodthat these prenomens all refer to one man: Apepi I, who ruled Egypt for 40+X years.[24]This is also supported by this king's employment of a third prenomen during his reign: Nebkhepeshre.[25]Apophis likely employed different prenomens over the course of several periods of his reign. This scenario is not without precedent or parallel, since several kings, includingMentuhotep II,the famousRamesses II,andSeti II,are known to have used two different prenomens during their reigns.

References[edit]

  1. ^Ryholt, K. S. B.; Bülow-Jacobsen, Adam (1997).The Political Situation in Egypt During the Second Intermediate Period, C. 1800-1550 B.C.Museum Tusculanum Press. pp. 303–304.ISBN978-87-7289-421-8.
  2. ^Shaw, Ian, ed. (2000).The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt.Oxford University Press. p.481.ISBN0-19-815034-2.
  3. ^Bunson, Margaret (2014).Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt.Infobase Publishing. p. 110.ISBN978-1-4381-0997-8.
  4. ^abcdefRyholt, K. S. B.; Bülow-Jacobsen, Adam (1997).The Political Situation in Egypt During the Second Intermediate Period, C. 1800-1550 B.C.Museum Tusculanum Press. p. 5.ISBN978-87-7289-421-8.
  5. ^Ryholt, K. S. B.; Bülow-Jacobsen, Adam (1997).The Political Situation in Egypt During the Second Intermediate Period, C. 1800-1550 B.C.Museum Tusculanum Press. p. 126.ISBN978-87-7289-421-8.
  6. ^abRyholt, K. S. B.; Bülow-Jacobsen, Adam (1997).The Political Situation in Egypt During the Second Intermediate Period, C. 1800-1550 B.C.Museum Tusculanum Press. pp. 131–132.ISBN978-87-7289-421-8.
  7. ^Ryholt, K. S. B.; Bülow-Jacobsen, Adam (1997).The Political Situation in Egypt During the Second Intermediate Period, C. 1800-1550 B.C.Museum Tusculanum Press. p. 118.ISBN978-87-7289-421-8.
  8. ^Ryholt, K. S. B.; Bülow-Jacobsen, Adam (1997).The Political Situation in Egypt During the Second Intermediate Period, C. 1800-1550 B.C.Museum Tusculanum Press. p. 130.ISBN978-87-7289-421-8.
  9. ^abcRyholt, K. S. B.; Bülow-Jacobsen, Adam (1997).The Political Situation in Egypt During the Second Intermediate Period, C. 1800-1550 B.C.Museum Tusculanum Press. p. 119.ISBN978-87-7289-421-8.
  10. ^Shaw, Ian (2003).The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt.OUP Oxford. p. 180.ISBN978-0-19-280458-7.
  11. ^Ryholt, K. S. B.; Bülow-Jacobsen, Adam (1997).The Political Situation in Egypt During the Second Intermediate Period, C. 1800-1550 B.C.Museum Tusculanum Press.ISBN978-87-7289-421-8.
  12. ^abShaw, Ian (2003).The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt.OUP Oxford. pp. 274 ff.ISBN978-0-19-280458-7.
  13. ^abcdeRyholt, K. S. B.; Bülow-Jacobsen, Adam (1997).The Political Situation in Egypt During the Second Intermediate Period, C. 1800-1550 B.C.Museum Tusculanum Press. pp. 123–124.ISBN978-87-7289-421-8.
  14. ^abcRyholt, K. S. B.; Bülow-Jacobsen, Adam (1997).The Political Situation in Egypt During the Second Intermediate Period, C. 1800-1550 B.C.Museum Tusculanum Press. p. 125.ISBN978-87-7289-421-8.
  15. ^abcRyholt, K. S. B.; Bülow-Jacobsen, Adam (1997).The Political Situation in Egypt During the Second Intermediate Period, C. 1800-1550 B.C.Museum Tusculanum Press. pp. 132–133.ISBN978-87-7289-421-8.
  16. ^Ryholt, K. S. B.; Bülow-Jacobsen, Adam (1997).The Political Situation in Egypt During the Second Intermediate Period, C. 1800-1550 B.C.Museum Tusculanum Press. p. 133.ISBN978-87-7289-421-8.
  17. ^Ilin-Tomich, Alexander (2016)."Second Intermediate Period".UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology:1–21.
  18. ^abShaw, Ian (2003).The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt.OUP Oxford. pp. 182–183.ISBN978-0-19-280458-7.
  19. ^abcRyholt, K. S. B.; Bülow-Jacobsen, Adam (1997).The Political Situation in Egypt During the Second Intermediate Period, C. 1800-1550 B.C.Museum Tusculanum Press. pp. 138–139.ISBN978-87-7289-421-8.
  20. ^Ryholt, K. S. B.; Bülow-Jacobsen, Adam (1997).The Political Situation in Egypt During the Second Intermediate Period, C. 1800-1550 B.C.Museum Tusculanum Press. p. 141.ISBN978-87-7289-421-8.
  21. ^Ryholt, K. S. B.; Bülow-Jacobsen, Adam (1997).The Political Situation in Egypt During the Second Intermediate Period, C. 1800-1550 B.C.Museum Tusculanum Press. pp. 145–148.ISBN978-87-7289-421-8.
  22. ^abcK.S.B. Ryholt:The Political Situation in Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period,c. 1800–1550 BC,Carsten Niebuhr Institute Publications, vol. 20. Copenhagen: Museum Tusculanum Press, 1997,excerpts available online here.
  23. ^abJürgen von Beckerath:Handbuch der ägyptischen Königsnamen,Münchner ägyptologische Studien, Heft 49, Mainz: P. von Zabern, 1999,ISBN3-8053-2591-6,available onlineArchived2015-12-22 at theWayback Machinesee p. 120–121.
  24. ^Kim Ryholt,The Political Situation in Egypt during the Second Intermediate Periodc. 1800-1550 B.C.by Museum Tuscalanum Press. 1997. p. 125
  25. ^Kings of the Second Intermediate PeriodUniversity College London; scroll down to the 15th dynasty

Bibliography[edit]

  • Kim Ryholt, The Political Situation in Egypt during the Second Intermediate Periodc. 1800-1550 B.C."by Museum Tuscalanum Press (ISBN87-7289-421-0)

External links[edit]

Preceded by Dynasty of Egypt
1650−1550 BC 		Succeeded by
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