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Khyan, Khian or Khayan was reportedly the fourth Kings of the Hyksos Fifteenth dynasty of Egypt who ruled around 1610-1580 BC. The Danish Egyptologist--Kim Ryholt--who published an extensive catalogue of all the monuments of 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:p.256)
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." (Ryholt: p.128) It should be stressed that Khyan's name was not original and had been in use for centuries prior to the 15th 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)." (Ryholt: p.128) Khyan's name is transcribed as Staan in Africanus' version of Manetho's Epitome.
External links
- Khiyan Titulary Accessed July 26, 2006
- Manfred Bietak, MDAIK 37, pp.63-71, pl.6
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