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A Second Intermediate Period scarab with the Name of King Khayan
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A Second Intermediate Period scarab with the Name of King Khayan

Anthea Fine Arts

Date ca. 1620-1581 BCE

Epoque Second Intermediate Period

Origine consignment, London

Medium glazed steatite

Dimension 1.85 x 1.3 x 0.8 cm (0³/₄ x 0¹/₂ x 0¹/₄ inches)

With a beautiful glaze; an undecorated back and inscribed on the base with the cartouche of king Khyan — sꜣ rꜥ (ḫyꜣn) di ꜥnh, within a broken spiral border. The spiral design was one of the most important pattern of the decorative art of the Ancient world.
From very ancient times it was largely used by the peoples of Western Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean. 
Pierced lengthwise. Beautiful conservation.

Khyan is listed as the third king of the 15th Dynasty — but, like most of the chronology of the Second Intermediate Period, this is just an educated guess.
He was considered one of the Great Hyksos kings, and his power extended beyond the Delta kingdom that was controlled by the Hyksos. His name has been found as far away as the Mediterranean shore and Crete.
As always, Manetho give him a long reign of 50 years, which is double what the normal modern estimate is. It is normally assumed that he ruled about 25 years,which is still a tremendous reign for the kings in this period, who often ruled only a small part of Egypt for a very small portion of time.
His name is well known outside of Egypt, with seals and other artifacts from as far away as Knossos in Crete and Bogaskoy (the capitol of the Hittite kingdom) and in the northern mountains of modern Turkey. Normally, his name is found with the title "Ruler of Foreign Lands". 



Comparanda
A similar scarab of King Khayan in the Metropolitan Museum of New-York, 308.457
A similar scarab of King Khayan in the British Museum, London, EA66722

Date: ca. 1620-1581 BCE

Epoque: Second Intermediate Period

Origine: consignment, London

Medium: glazed steatite

Dimension: 1.85 x 1.3 x 0.8 cm (0³/₄ x 0¹/₂ x 0¹/₄ inches)

Provenance: Old european private collection of a Lady, prior 1980s

Literature: NEWBERRY, P.E., Scarabs, 1908, pl. XXII, 24
MATOUK, F.S., Tome 1. Les Scarabées Royaux, 181. Khyan, 193, 1971
HAYES, W., The Scepter of Egypt, II, P. 5

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Anthea Fine Arts

Antiquities, Classical Sculptures, Glyptics and Jewelry.

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