Imhotep (pronounced /ɪmˈhoʊtɛp/; Ancient Egyptian: ỉỉ-m-ḥtp, meaning "the one who comes in peace"; lived around the late 27th century BC) was a high official to Pharaoh Djoser, possibly the builder of Djoser’s step pyramid, and a priest of the sun god Ra in Heliopolis. Little is known about Imhotep as a person, but over 3,000 years after his death, he was honored and worshipped as a god.

Later traditions described him as a writer of wise texts and a healer. No writings from his time mention these roles, and no records from the first 1,200 years after his death refer to his name. The Westcar Papyrus, written during the Hyksos period in an ancient Egyptian language (likely around the 13th Dynasty), includes a story about an official performing a miracle for Djoser, possibly Imhotep. However, this part of the text is damaged, and the character’s name is not clearly mentioned.

Besides two short inscriptions that confirm his role as a chancellor to the Pharaoh, the first known text to mention Imhotep dates to the time of Pharaoh Amenhotep III (around 1391–1353 BC). This text, addressed to someone who owned a tomb, reads:

“It appears that this offering to Imhotep was repeated regularly, as it is found on papyri linked to statues of Imhotep until the Late Period (around 664–332 BC). Wildung (1977) suggests the worship of Imhotep developed slowly from people’s memories of him after his death. Gardiner notes that the worship of Imhotep during the New Kingdom (around 1550–1077 BC) was different from the usual offerings made to other common people, so calling him a "demigod" may be accurate.

The first mentions of Imhotep’s healing abilities appear during the Thirtieth Dynasty (around 380–343 BC), about 2,200 years after his death.

Imhotep is one of fewer than a dozen non-royal Egyptians who were worshipped as gods after their deaths. His worship was centered in Memphis. The location of his tomb is still unknown, despite many attempts to find it.

Historicity

Imhotep's existence is supported by two writings from his time, found on the base of one of Pharaoh Djoser's statues (Cairo JE 49889) and a carved message on the wall of the unfinished step pyramid of King Sekhemkhet. This message indicates that Imhotep lived a few years after Djoser and later worked on Sekhemkhet's pyramid, which was left incomplete because Sekhemkhet ruled for a short time.

Imhotep held a unique title, "bity sensen" or "bity senwy," which means "the King of Lower Egypt, the two brothers." This title suggests he might have been the Pharaoh's twin brother, which could explain his high position. However, no other individuals are known to have held this title, so this remains uncertain. If he was not a twin, he may have been a close friend or trusted advisor to the Pharaoh.

Imhotep was one of the most important officials during Pharaoh Djoser's reign. Historians believe he designed and built the Pyramid of Djoser, a step pyramid at Saqqara from the 3rd Dynasty. He may also have used stone columns for the first time to support a building. However, ancient Egyptian records do not mention Imhotep as the pyramid's designer or the creator of stone architecture.

Deification

After 2,000 years, Imhotep was considered a god of medicine and healing. Later, he was compared to Thoth, the god of architecture, mathematics, medicine, and writing. Imhotep’s religious traditions were combined with those of Thoth. In Thebes, Imhotep was honored as the "brother" of Amenhotep, son of Hapu, another god who was also an architect. The Greeks compared Imhotep to Asklepios, their god of health, because of Imhotep’s connection to healing.

According to stories, Imhotep’s mother was a woman named Khereduankh, who was later honored as a half-god, the daughter of Banebdjedet. Sometimes, because Imhotep was called the "Son of Ptah," his mother was said to be Sekhmet, the protector of Upper Egypt, who was married to Ptah.

A stone tablet from the Ptolemaic period (305–30 BC) describes a seven-year famine during the time of Pharaoh Djoser. Imhotep is credited with helping end the famine. A priest explained how the god Khnum, who controls the Nile, was connected to the river’s rising water. The Pharaoh then dreamed that the Nile god promised to stop the drought.

A papyrus from the 2nd century AD, found in the temple of Tebtunis, tells a long story about Imhotep. It mentions Pharaoh Djoser, Imhotep’s father, the god Ptah, his mother Khereduankh, and his younger sister Renpetneferet. In the story, Djoser wants Renpetneferet, and Imhotep disguises himself to save her. The text also refers to Djoser’s royal tomb. One part of the story includes a battle between the Old Kingdom and Assyrian armies, where Imhotep fights a sorceress from Assyria in a magical contest.

Imhotep remained an important figure in Egyptian culture even during the Roman period. In the Ptolemaic period, the Egyptian priest and historian Manetho claimed Imhotep invented the method of building with stone during Djoser’s time. However, stone walls, floors, door frames, and doorways had already been used before, even though no building as large as Djoser’s step pyramid had been made entirely of stone. Before Djoser, kings were buried in mastaba tombs.

Egyptologist James Peter Allen states that "The Greeks compared him to their god of medicine, Asklepios, although there is no proof that Imhotep was a doctor."

In his Pulitzer Prize-winning book The Emperor of All Maladies, Siddhartha Mukherjee mentions that Imhotep wrote the oldest known record of cancer. Unfortunately, the treatment Imhotep suggested was simply: "There is none."

In popular culture

The name Imhotep is the name of the villain in the 1932 movie The Mummy, as well as the 1999 version of the film.