Manetho's obscure reference to a race of invaders has been a constant
source of debate and controversy. But who are these invaders? They are
named the 'Hyksos' - a Greek modification of the Egyptian expression HqA
xAs.wt 'ruler of foreign lands'. The Hyksos are correlated with the
Fifteenth Dynasty of the Second Intermediate Period, a time
characterised by the destabilisation and regionalisation of the Egyptian
state. Several scholars have pondered over their victory and rule in
Egypt, from the manner in which they entered Egypt and the means with
which they claimed the throne to their final expulsion from the land.
This book assesses their rise to power, exploring the preliminary stages
that enabled the Hyksos to gain control over a portion of Egyptian
territory and thus to merit a small mention in Manetho's history.