Some reflections about Avaris

As Avaris was not a Hyksos foundation, the origins of the cult of Seth there preceded the 15th Dynasty. The town's Egyptian name Hwt-wart may be understood as "refugee camp", that is, for the Levantine population. In the name "Hyksos" the last element should rather be understood as referring to people: HqA-xAstyw, "ruler of foreigners". The Hyksos name "Zeker-her", found in a cartouche on a doorway at Avaris, may be that of the first Hyksos ruler, whose name Manetho gives as Salatis. The mention of the King's Son Y-n-s-s on a stela of Khyan makes him his son, who was listed by Flavius Josephus as the fourth Hyksos ruler Iannas, which makes Khyan (= Manetho's Apachnan) the third ruler of the 15th Dynasty. The pseudo-shrine found at Avaris, now reassembled by joining its two halves, one of which had turned up already in 1958, informs us that the Hyksos ruler aA-wsr-Ra Apophis was served by a personal dignitary who also served the "King's Sister" 6aw-ny, probably the ruler's wife. (OEB)