Egyptian Gods

Imhotep was known as the Egyptian god other than the pharaohs, who was actually a real person. His name Imhotep also spelled as Immutef, Imhetep, Im-hotep, Ii-em-Hotep or Imuthes in Greek, whose name means “the one who comes with peace”. He was originally the engineer, architect, writer, astronomer, physician and scientist in history known by name. He served as chancellor to the pharaoh under the 3rd Dynasty king, Djozer and high priest of the sun god Ra at Heliopolis.

Imhotep was the architect of the Step Pyramid (Pyramid of Djoser) at Saqqara, near Memphis in Egypt. It was the first structure created by human hands to be built entirely from stone. He designed the Step Pyramid and formulates the architectural theories that lead to the construction of the Pyramids of Giza later.  Imhotep was the first to known to use of columns in architecture.

He was given many titles such as Chancellor of the King of Egypt, Doctor, First in line after the King of Upper Egypt, Administrator of the Great Palace, Hereditary nobleman, High Priest of Heliopolis, Builder, Chief Carpenter, Chief Sculptor and Maker of Vases in Chief.

After death, the ancient Egyptians believed that Imhotep became a god and very popular among the learned people of Egypt. He was referred as the god of medicine and healing. He was said to be a son of Ptah, the architect of the entire universe. He was also associated with Thoth, the god of wisdom and later linked to Asclepius by the Greek, their god of medicine and healing.

Imhotep was worshipped widely throughout Egypt. During the Ptolemaic Period, a temple was built to Imhotep on the Island of Philae. His appearances portrayed as a man seated in the scribal position with a roll of papyrus open on his laps and dressed in the robes of a noble with a shaven head.