ZOAN
(Heb. «Sõ’an», from the Egyptian «D’n.t»). Egyptian city east of the Delta, on the tannitic branch of the Nile, near 31° north latitude.
Built seven years after Hebron, which already existed in the time of Abraham (Num. 13:22), Zoan already existed at the time of the Sixth Dynasty. The first kings of the 12th dynasty made it their capital to stop invasions from the east.
The Hyksos fortified Zoan, which also became their capital, giving it the name Avaris (see Hyksos). After the expulsion of the Hyksos, Zoan was neglected, and then restored by Seti I. Avaris, later known as Tanis, was the center of the cult of the Egyptian god Seth.
Seti I’s successor, Ramesses II, continued the restoration of Zoan, establishing his residence very close to it, in Per-Re’emasese, that is, the city of Ramses. (See RAMESES.)
Moses and the Pharaoh of the Exodus met in Zoan (Ps. 78:12, 43). Between the time of Isaiah and Ezekiel, the Assyrians took possession of Zoan (Is. 19:11, 13; cf. 30:4; Ez. 30:14). The Greeks gave him the name Tanis.