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Khyan
File:Seuserenra Khian.JPG
Pharaoh
Reign	1610 BC to 1580 BC
Predecessor	Sakir-Har?
Successor	Apophis
Royal titulary Horus name Nomen File:Titulary 5a.gif
Died	1580 BC
Monuments	A Stela in Avaris
Dynasty	Fifteenth dynasty of Egypt

Khyan, Khian or Khayan or Seuserenre Bebi-ankh was reportedly the fourth King of the Hyksos Fifteenth dynasty of Egypt who ruled around 1610-1580 BC. The Danish Egyptologist Kim Ryholt who published an extensive catalogue of the monuments of all the numerous Pharaohs of the Second Intermediate Period notes an important personal detail regarding this king's family. He states that:

"a stela set up in Avaris contains the nomen and prenomen of Khayan and a now lost dedication (presumably to Seth, Lord of Avaris) below which are inscribed the title and name of the Eldest King's Son Yanassi. The association of Khayan with those of his eldest son upon this stela suggests that the latter in fact was his designated successor, as also implied by his title. Khayan was, however, succeeded by Apophis who was apparently an usurper."

Ryholt argues that the Turin Canon gives Khyan a reign of 30 to 40 years due to the large numbers of objects known for this Hyksos king. Since both Bietak and Ryholt note the fact that Yanassi was apparently Khyan's designated successor, Apophis must have staged a coup d'etat to seize power--perhaps immediately after the death of Khyan to pre-empt the latter's son from assuming the throne.

Origin of Khyan's name

Ryholt notes that the name Khyan has "generally been interpreted as Amorite Hayanu (reading h-ya-a-n) which the Egyptian form represents perfectly, and this is in all likelihood the correct interpretation." It should be stressed that Khyan's name was not original and had been in use for centuries prior to the 15th Hyksos Dynasty. The name Hayanu is recorded in the Assyrian king lists--see "Khorsabad List I, 17 and the SDAS List, I, 16"--"for a remote ancestor of Shamshi-Adad I (c.1800 BC)." Khyan's name is transcribed as Staan in Africanus' version of Manetho's Epitome.

External links

1. Manfred Bietak, MDAIK 37, pp.63-71, pl.6
2. Kim SB Ryholt, The Political Situation in Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period, CNI Publications, (Museum Tusculanum Press: 1997), p.256
3. Ryholt, op. cit., p.201
4. Kim SB Ryholt, op. cit., p.128
5. Kim SB Ryholt, op. cit., p.128

References

• Kim Ryholt, The Political Situation in Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period c.1800-1550 B.C., Museum Tuscalanum Press, (1997), 463 pages, ISBN 87-7289-421-0

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• Pharaohs of the Fifteenth dynasty of Egypt