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Imhotep was a vizier, wizard, and the first architect and physician
known by name to written history. As the Pharaoh Djosèr's
Vizier, he designed the Pyramid of Djzosèr (Step Pyramid)
at Saqqara in Egypt around 2630-2611 BC, during the 3rd Dynasty.
He may also have been responsible for the first known use of
columns in architecture. His name means the one who comes in
peace.
Imhotep also served as chancellor to the pharaoh and high
priest of the sun god Ra at Heliopolis.
He was said to be a son of Ptah, his
mother being a mortal named Khredu-ankh. He was revered as
a genius and showered with titles. The full list of titles
is: Chancellor of the King of Lower Egypt, First after the
King of Upper Egypt, Administrator of the Great Palace, Hereditary
nobleman, High Priest of Heliopolis, Builder, Sculptor and
Maker of Vases in Chief. Imhotep is credited as the founder
of Egyptian medicine, and as author of the Edwin Smith papyrus,
detailing cures, ailments and anatomical observations. The
Edwin Smith Papyrus was probably written around 1700 BC but
may perhaps go back to texts written around 1000 years earlier.
Two thousand years after his death, his status was raised
to that of a god. Imhotep became the god of medicine and healing.
He was linked to Asclepius by the Greeks. As the son of Ptah,
his mother was sometimes said to be Sekhmet,
who was often said to be married to Ptah,
since she was the patron of Upper Egypt. As he was thought
of as the inventor of healing, he was also sometimes said
to be the one who held Nuit (deification
of the sky) up, as the seperation of Nuit
and Geb (deification of the earth) was
said to be what held chaos back. Due to the position this
would have placed him in, he was also sometimes said to be
Nuit's son. In artwork he is also linked
with Hathor, who was the wife of
Ra, Maat, which
was the concept of truth and justice, and Amenhotep son of
Hapu, who was another deified architect.
The location for Imhotep's tomb is still unknown. Many egyptologists
have tried locating it but so far haven't succeeded. The general
consensus is that his tomb is located at Saqqara.
Gods
and Goddesses Menu
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