The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-27

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hence the Hyksos have becn identified will
| the HaQ Shnsu tBedouinsL The old nationa
name OF this race obtained in the course o.
| time the secondary sense OF shepherds. that
is. nomad people who followed the occupation
OF rearing cattle. Brugsch thinks 1t probable
that the Egyptians. after the final expulsion
OF their Semitic tyrants. applied the nickname
Haq Shasu as contemptuous expression 10
the princes who for several centuries had re-
garded themselves as the legitimate kings Of
Egypt.
According to julius Africanus. another
auoter Of Manetho. the Hyksos kings were
said to have been Phnnicians. and Brugsch
| thinks the tradition has q semblance OF truth.
| The ancient sents OF the Shasu-Ara and OF
the Phnnicians extended westward to the city
OF Tanis; consequently the two races must
have come into the closest contact That amid
such a mixture OF nations the civilized Khar.
or PhGnicians. would obtain the foremost
place seems probable but whether they or the
Shasu were the actual originators Of the
| movement against the native kings ia ques-
ton which scientific investigation cannot yet
answer. The inscriptions on the monuments
designate the foreign people who once ruled
in Egypt by the name OF Menti. and on the
walls OF the temple OF Edfu it is stated that
the inhabitants Of tho land Of Asher are called
Menti We know from the trilinRual inscrip-
tion on tho great stone OF Tanis
that Asher was the common name Of
Syria in the popular language Of the
Egyptians. while tho older name Of the same
country was Rutennu OF the East. 1t is note
worthy that Immediately after tho expulsion
OF the Menti tho Egyptian kings of tho eiGh-
tcenth dynasty. rs II actuated by craving for
md rpf rh,,fiop diraItaI fhNir nm M
paigns against the countries inhabited by the
Rutennu. that is to say. against syria and
Mesopotamia. On tho whole, tho conclusion
which Brugsch favors is that the eruption Of
the foreigners into Egypt proceeded from tho
Syrians who In their progress through the
arid desert found in tho Shusu-Arabs welcome
allies who knew the country: whlo in the
Semitic inhabitants already settled in tho
eastern marches OF tho Delta. they greeted
brothers of the same race. with whose help
they succeeded In dealing severe blow to the
kingdom of the Phnraohs. and in robbing it
for centuries of all Independent energy.
Tho number OF monuments which contain
memorials of the time OF the Hyksos is very
limited. but this gap in the sequence OF in
scriptions may be attributed to the fact that
when the native rulers were reestablished
they endeavored to oblitcrate every record OF
the hated usurpers. Nevertheless. some me-
MORALS remained. and the definite results Of
the researches into the history OF the Shep-
herd Kings may be thus summed up: A cor
tain number of non-Egyptian kings Of Asiatic
origin belonging to the nation of the Menti
ruled for long timo in the eastern portion OF
the Delta. and during certain period were
recognized rs over-lords by sub-kings OF ma
tive lineage. who maintained a measure oflocnl
authority in Thebes and other cities. The for
hi.
Zoan and Avaris. and provided them with
strong Notifications. Gradually they assimi-
lated the civilization of the country. adopting
not only the manners and customs OF tho
Egyptians but also their official language and
writing. They were also patrons Of Egyptian
art. and native artists erected after the ancient
models monuments in honor OF the usurpers.
in whose statues they were obliged to repro
duco the Hyksos physiognomy. as we'll as their
peculiar arrangement OF the beard and head
dress. Under the surname of Nub. the gold
en- tho invaders honored Sutekh as the
supreme god OF their newly acquired
possessions. In the cities Of Zoan and
Avaris splendid temples were constructed
in honor of this god. and other monuments.
especially sphinXes. were carved out Of stone
from Syene. 1t should be noted. on the other
hand. that the Egyptians were indebted to their
contact with the newcomers for much useful
knowledge. and that their field OF artistic de-
lineation was expanded by the introduction Of
new forms. especially by that OF the winged
sphinx. whose Semitic origin is obvious. In
all probability, also. opo Of the Shepherd
Kings was the founder OF n new chronological
era which seems to have begun with the first
year OF his reign. Down to the time Of tho
second Harnesses there had elapsed four hun
dred years Of this reckoning, which was ac-
knowledged even by tho Egyptians.