Dynasty 14 — Delta sequence, evidence and Avaris context
14th Dynasty
Open full-size illustration →Source: Shaw, Oxford History of Ancient Egypt (2000)
Background
The Fourteenth Dynasty represents an independent, Delta-based kingdom centered on the city of Avaris, ruled largely by kings of Canaanite or Levantine background, running roughly in parallel with the Thirteenth Dynasty's continued but weakening rule from Itjtawy. Later Egyptian tradition and the damaged Turin Canon disagree sharply on how many kings it included and for how long, and beyond a small number of names tied to genuine inscriptions, almost the entire sequence is reconstructed from fragmentary evidence. Research: UCL Digital Egypt; Metropolitan Museum.
Chronological source: Shaw, Oxford History of Ancient Egypt (2000)
Full profile
The rise of Avaris
By 1800 BCE, communities of Egyptianized Canaanites and Levantines had settled heavily in the eastern delta, particularly in the port city of Avaris. These populations grew incredibly wealthy through Mediterranean and Asian trade. As the central government in Itjtawy weakened, local leaders in Avaris raised private armies and operated independently.
A new state
Between 1750 and 1700 BCE, this region broke away to form an independent state recognized as the 14th Dynasty. The historian Manetho claimed the dynasty consisted of 76 kings ruling from Xois, but archaeological evidence firmly points to Avaris as their true seat of power. The Turin Canon lists 56 kings, many bearing Canaanite or Levantine names. The region suffered heavily from civil strife, drought, famine, and plague shortly after declaring independence.
Nehesy: the dynasty's best-attested king
Among the dynasty's many names, Nehesy, throne name Aasehre, stands out as unusually well documented by comparison. Fragments of a doorway and an obelisk from a temple of the god Seth at Avaris carry his titles, a statue found at nearby Tell el-Muqdam names him in connection with "Set, Lord of Avaris," and stelae from Tell Habuwa independently confirm the link between his birth name Nehesy and his throne name Aasehre. Excavations at Avaris, the modern site of Tell el-Dab'a, also associate his reign with the founding of a large temple built in a distinctly Canaanite architectural style, evidence for how thoroughly the eastern Delta's population and religious practice had blended Egyptian and Levantine traditions by this point.
Sources for this profile
- Baker, D. D. (2008). The Encyclopedia of the Pharaohs: Volume 1. Stacey International.
- Shaw, I. (Ed.). (2000). The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt. Oxford University Press.
- Ryholt, K. (2004). The Turin King-list. Ägypten und Levante, 14, 135–155.
- Dodson, A., & Hilton, D. (2004). The Complete Royal Families of Ancient Egypt. Thames & Hudson.
- University College London. Digital Egypt for Universities.
The complete, APA-formatted reference list is on the Academic Sources & Bibliography page.