Imhotep: Ancient Egypt's Architect, Physician, and Deity

Overview and Biography

In many academic circles, the man Imhotep — whose name means "He who comes in peace" — exemplifies the rich tradition of Ancient Egypt. He was an Egyptian royal, though not a ruler, who served under the Third Dynasty King Djoser as his Chancellor and later as High Priest to the sun god Ra in the city of Heliopolis. His accomplishments were quite numerous; many consider him to be the first recorded expert in architecture, engineering, and medicine (Osler).

What is particularly interesting about Imhotep is that he was one of the very few mortals to be honored by being depicted as part of a pharaoh's statue. This was extremely rare in Egyptian history and demonstrates the tremendous importance Imhotep held in the political and cultural hegemony of the period. He was also granted divine status after his death, with the center of the Imhotep cult established in the city of Memphis. Beyond his scientific achievements, many of his sayings and ideas were popularized among the aristocratic and technological classes after his death. His words were often referenced in song and poetry: "I have heard the words of Imhotep and Hordedef with those discourses men speak so much" (Kemp, 156).

By now, a number of tombs and monuments from Egypt's past have been discovered intact, looted, or at least partially recoverable. The location of Imhotep's self-constructed tomb, however, remains well hidden. Most Egyptologists believe it lies somewhere near Saqqara, but even with concerted efforts from major museums and the Government of Egypt, no one has been able to determine a precise location (Mertz, 49–50).

We do, however, know that Imhotep was a real, historical person, because his name and accomplishments appear on two contemporary inscriptions. The first, found on the base of one of Djoser's statues, lauds Imhotep's achievements in service to the king. The second is a series of graffiti on the enclosure wall surrounding the unfinished step pyramid of Sekhemkhet. These inscriptions suggest that Imhotep actually outlived Djoser and served in the construction of King Sekhemkhet's pyramid, which was later abandoned due to Sekhemkhet's brief and turbulent reign (Khal).

Works Cited

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