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The Hyksos: A New Investigation Paperback – April 1, 2010

by John Van Seters (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 16 ratings
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The Hyksos, foreign rulers of Egypt in the Second Intermediate Period--from about 1700 to 1550 B.C. -have been a source of continuing debate among archaeologists and historians. Mr. Van Seters approaches the problems of their rise to power, their dynasties, the nature of their rule, and their religion from the joint perspectives of archaeology and literary criticism. Archaeological investigation shows the Middle Bronze culture of Syria-Palestine to have had highly developed fortifications, advanced urban life, fine buildings and temples, and a high quality of practical and artistic craftsmanship. Based on a revised date for the long-known The Admonitions of Ipuwer, this study offers a fresh explanation of the Hyksos' rise to power. A new examination of the location of Avaris, their capital, indicates that the previous identification with Tanis must give way to the region near Qantir. The Hyksos were not Hurrians or Indo-Aryans, but Ammurite princes who rose to power in Egypt following the dynastic weaknesses at the end of the Middle Kingdom.
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  1. Print length
    240 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Wipf and Stock
  4. Publication date
    April 1, 2010
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.55 x 8.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    160899533X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1608995332
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

""A fine piece of work on a difficult subject of historical importance. Mr. Van Seters has a new approach to the material which he presents with skill and authority. His ideas are of the kind which stimulate further discussion on a new basis."" -- William Stevenson Smith

About the Author

John Van Seters isUniversity Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He now resides in Waterloo, ON.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wipf and Stock (April 1, 2010)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 240 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 160899533X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1608995332
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.55 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 16 ratings

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
16 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Sharon F. Ogden
5.0 out of 5 stars Frustrated Egyptologist wanna be
Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2014
Verified Purchase
Above refers to me - I have so many books in my personal library that deal with ancient egypt. I am reading more than one book on ancient egypt right now - not the smartest thing to do. It would help if the real egyptologists could reach a consensus among themselves - I think we would all be better for it. I would like to see more written about the hyksos by other more seasoned scholars.
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Muttley
4.0 out of 5 stars Who Were the Hyksos?
Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2011
Our primary historical source for the Hyksos is Josephus, who summarizes the account of the Egyptian historian Manetho: "From the regions of the East, invaders of obscure race marched in confidence of victory against our land. By main force they easily seized it without striking a blow; and having overpowered the rulers of the land, they then burned our cities ruthlessly, razed to the ground the temples of the gods, and treated all the natives with a cruel hostility... Their race as a whole was called Hyksos, that is 'King-Shepherds.'"

Arising seemingly out of nowhere this mysterious people subdued the ancient Egyptian civilization and ruled it for over a hundred years, operating out of Avaris, a city or "administrative center" built by the Hyksos themselves to manage their newfound empire. A coalition of Egyptian elements formed against the foreign rulers and finally managed to evict them under the pharaoh Ahmose, founder of the 18th dynasty (15th century B.C.).

John van Seters examines surviving texts that deal with the Hyksos period, such as the Execration Texts and the Admonitions of Ipuwer, as well as archaelogical evidence, to gain a clearer picture of this enigmatic people. He is especially interested in dispelling the picture of them as invading chariot-riding Indo-Europeans, a view then commonly held (he was writing in 1966). Rather than a classic "invasion," van Seters argues that the Hyksos infiltrated Egyptian society gradually, an assimilated people who took over more and more internal functions of the empire and finally, with the aid of some self-interested elements of Egyptian society, effected an internal coup.

In the course of his argument van Seters pays meticulous attention to the surviving evidence, literary and archaelogical. One chapter for example is entirely dedicated to the discussion of the construction of city fortifications in the Middle Bronze Age; another section discusses the use of the inscriptions on the widespread "scarab" charms as evidence; ceramics, metallurgy, social life and more are discussed. Some readers may be frustrated by the amount of attention paid to seemingly tangential details, but others will appreciate such thoroughness in a case where evidence is so sadly lacking.

In the end the picture of the Hyksos remains frustratingly vague. As far as "who they were," van Seters argues that the surviving evidence, mainly a linguistic analysis of the surviving Hyksos kings' names, suggests they were a Semitic people, tentatively identified as the Amorites. He argues specifically against a Hurrian or Indo-European interpretation. Unfortunately there is a dearth of historical evidence, largely because the indignant Egyptians eliminated almost all records of their invaders after expelling them.
31 people found this helpful
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Tarieli Makharashvili
5.0 out of 5 stars Track it better.
Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2019
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I got it, interesting book.
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Harrison Koehli
4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Beginning
Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2011
It's great to see this book back in print. Now that volume one of  Changing Perspectives I: Studies in the History, Literature and Religion of Biblical Israel (Copenhagen International Seminar)  has been published (a collection of many of Van Seters' most influential articles from the past 40-some years), the two books offer a great opportunity to see how his work on history and the Bible has progressed over the years. But even in this early work, the qualities that make him great are more than apparent.

Prior to this study, most scholars held outdated and poorly supported views on the "Hyksos", the foreign "invaders" and rulers of Egypt during the Second Intermediate Period. Van Seters challenged these notions by going straight to the evidence. His approach was new, but completely reasonable: What can we KNOW, based on the EVIDENCE? If the "historically controlled data" do not confirm a widely held belief, it must be rejected. Simple in theory, but harder in practice, especially in the field of "Biblical studies".

So what does he say about the Hyksos? Basically that later notions of their being "foreign invaders" is more likely political propaganda from a time far removed from the actual events. The contemporary evidence, in the form of archaeological finds and literary sources, paints a much different picture: the "Hyksos" were a fifth column-type group of Amorites who had assimilated into Egyptian culture, taken on positions of power, and eventually effected a coup to cement their rule. This period was continuous with the Syrian-Palestinian civilization of the time (Middle Bronze).

His critical approach is refreshing, and the book is great.
20 people found this helpful
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Terry A. Garza
5.0 out of 5 stars The Hyksos a Bibical Invertigation
Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2009
John Van Seters outlines the dates for the Hyksos in this book quite well. This is a must book for anyone interested in the time for the Exodus. The dates are point on with the Bible's concerning the children of Israel at this time in Egypt. It's a must for any serious student of Bible archaeology.
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Andrew Collins
5.0 out of 5 stars All you need to know about the Hyksos period and more
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 4, 2021
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Best book by a mile on the western Asiatic influence in Egyot during the Second Intermediate Period. A must have for research projects on this period.
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roberto
4.0 out of 5 stars Obra clave para el estudio de la dinastia egipcia de los Hycsos
Reviewed in Spain on October 28, 2013
Verified Purchase
Obra clave para el estudio de la dinastia egipcia de los Hycsos, sobre todo ofrece información sobre el faraon Apofis.
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