Brugsch, Heinrich: Egypt under the pharaohs: a history derived entirely from the monuments (London, 1891)

B-ra. xv.-xvn. PEOBABLE DERIVATION OF ' HYKSOS' 105

After him another, Apachnan (or Apach-

nas) . . . . . .36 yrs. 7 months

After him Aphobis (or Aphophis, Apophis,

Aphosis) ...... 61 yrs.

And Annas (or Janias, Jannas, Anan) . 50 yrs. 1 month
Last of all Asseth (or Aseth, Ases, Assis) 49 yrs. 2 months

' These six were the first kings. They carried on uninterrupted
war, with a view to destroy the land of Egypt, even to extermina-
tion.

' The whole people bore the name of Hyksos, that is, " king shep-
herds " (commonly called " shepherd kings "). For hyk in the holy
language signifies a "king," and sos in the dialect of the people a
"shepherd" or "shepherds." Thus combined they form Hyksos.
Some think they were Arabs.'

Now the word sos corresponds exactly to the old
Egyptian shasu, hence they have been identified with
the Ilaq Shasu (Bedawi). Their old national name in
the course of time obtained, in the popular language,
the secondary sense of ' shepherds,' that is, a nomad
people, who followed the occupation of rearing cattle,
which has at all times formed the sole wealth of the
inhabitants of the desert.

If the objection should be raised that the monuments
{as yet discovered) pass over the name of Hyksos in
silence, it must be remembered that by far the greater
number of contemporary monuments have completely
disappeared from off the Egyptian soil. Meanwhile it
may be well to compare the information existing in the
few extant inscriptions with the accounts of Greek
tradition. Manetho's name Hyksos is undoubtedly in
complete agreement with the supposed Egyptian word
Saq Shasu, king of the Arabs, wanderers or shepherds,
and it is not therefore necessary to maintain that they
invented for themselves and assumed it on account of
their office. Bather is it probable that the Egyptians,
after the final expulsion of their Semitic tyrants,
formed the nickname Haq-Shasu as a contemptuous