Great Architects of the World: Imhotep ( Egypt , Greece )

Imhotep

(2635-2595 B.C.)

(Living in 27th century BCE, Egypt) Architect,
chief magician at the Pharaoh's court, vizier,
sage and astrologer.
About 100 years after his death, he was elevated
to a medical demigod. About 2000 years later,
he was elevated to a full deity. Imhotep is
together with Amenhotep the only Egyptian humans
ever defined as full gods.

Imhotep existed as a mythological figure in the minds of most scholars until the end of the nineteenth century when he was established as a real historical personage. Revered as a god, a patron of scribes, a sage, and leader, Imhotep is often considered the first true architect.

HUMAN BEING

Imhotep was a man of great skills in his time.
He was the architect of the temple of Edfu,
as well as the step pyramid at Saqqara necropolis
near the city of Memphis.
There are no reports of his skills as a physician,

but his position at the pharaoh's court clearly
indicates that he was active in this field:
We know that he was the chief magician, who often
also was the chief physician. An even better indication
is that people so well remembered him for special medical
skills that fairly soon after his death he was elevated
to a demigod

Although Imhotep has been credited with innumerable

architectural achievements, the only certainty is that

he built the complex of King Neterikhet at Saqqara.

His name inscribed on the north side of the enclosure

wall of Sekhemkhet's unfinished pyramid suggest that

he was also responsible for this later project.

DEMIGOD AND GOD

For about 2000 years, Imhotep was no more than a demigod,
but his popularity and ascribed skills must have grown
stronger.
In 525, he was elevated to a full god, and replaced
Nefertum in the great triad in Memphis. Here he ruled
together with his mythological parents, Ptah and Sekhmet.
His temples in Memphis and on the island of Philae were
usually filled with people seeking cures for their diseases.
Their belief was that the treatment and remedies would be
revealed in their dreams, while they were at the shrines.

Imhotep is comsidered to be the earliest known named architect.