Tanis

Tanis, ancient city of Egypt, in the eastern delta of the Nile. It is identified with the Hyksos capital, Avaris (XII dynasty), and is called Zoan in the Bible. It was a significant city in the XIX dynasty and was capital of the XXI (Tanite) dynasty. On the Asian frontier, Tanis was important strategically and commercially until threatened inundation by Lake Manzala caused it to be abandoned after the 6th cent. A.D. for the city of Tennis. Excavations, first begun in 1860, revealed inscriptions, several temples and statues, and a royal necropolis.

biblical Zoan

Ancient city, Egypt. Its remains are located in the Nile River delta. Capital of a province of Lower Egypt and, under the 21st and 22nd dynasties (circa 1075–circa 700 BC), of the whole country, it was important as one of the ports nearest to the Asian seaboard. In 1939 several intact royal tombs containing silver coffins, gold masks, and gold and silver jewelry were excavated within the ancient main temple enclosure.

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The word Tanis has a number of meanings:

• Tanis - An alternative metal group from Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• Tanis Diena - A Latvian pig festival
• Tanis, Egypt - An archaeological temple site and capital of Egypt's 21st and 22nd Dynasty
• Tanis Half-Elven - A character in the Dragonlance novels & game products
• Tanis, Manche, a commune of the Manche département, in France
• Tanis, a character in an early episode of Star Trek: Voyager