This volume, edited by I. Forstner-Müller and N. Moeller, compiles contributions from an international workshop focused on the Hyksos ruler Khyan and the early Second Intermediate Period in Egypt, held in Vienna in July 2014. The workshop, organized by the Austrian Archaeological Institute and the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, aimed to share recent findings from key sites such as Edfu, Tell el-Dab’a, and Abydos, which have significantly enhanced our understanding of this era. Notably, sealing impressions from Edfu and Tell el-Dab’a bearing Khyan's name, along with the discovery of previously unknown royal tombs from an independent “Abydene” Dynasty in Abydos, shed new light on the political landscape of the time. Traditionally placed in the middle of the 15th Dynasty, Khyan's chronological position is now suggested to be at its beginning, indicating an overlap with the 13th Dynasty. This revised dating has significant implications for both Egyptian and Mediterranean chronologies. The findings from these sites prompt a reevaluation of the chronology of Dynasties 13 to 17 and the political structures during the Second Intermediate Period. The workshop discussions highlighted diverse interpretations of the evidence, which are reflected in the contributions to this volume, aiming to foster further research and dialogue on this critical topic.
