The Man who became a God

The Man who became a God: Imhotep

With the recent release of the movie The Mummy Returns many are becoming reacquainted with the name Imhotep. In the movie, Imhotep is the High Priest of Osiris in the ancient city of Thebes under the rule of Seti I. But just who was the actual historical Imhotep?

Imhotep lived between the years 2635-2595 BC. Born a simple commoner in the Third Dynasty of the Old Kingdom of Egypt, Imhotep displayed great skill and wisdom, and this coupled with his intense dedication to his king and country moved him swiftly through the ranks to become Vizier and High Priest of Ptah in the court of King Djoser I.

Imhotep was a great many things: astronomer, scientist, physician, poet, and most of all, architect. In fact, he is often considered the first true architect as he designed and oversaw the construction of the first pyramids, his most famous being the Step Pyramid at Saqqara. He is also credited with building King Neterikhet's complex also at Saqqara.

Patron to scribes and doctors, Imhotep is usually depicted as a priest with a shaven head. Legend also credits him with ending the dreadful 7-year famine. It is said that he advised the king to make offerings to the god Khnum, he who controlled the floodwaters of the Nile.

Up until the end of the 19th century many scholars still believed that Imhotep was the stuff of mythology, of legend, when his true historical identity was indeed established. Widely admired throughout his lifetime Imhotep's greatness spread and evolved as his status was gradually elevated to that of a god. Then, some two thousand years after his death, Imhotep was deified and was regarded not just as High Priest of Ptah, but also as Son of Ptah.

So if you go see the The Mummy or The Mummy Returns you'll know a bit about the real Imhotep. It's fitting that in the movie the character of Imhotep is the High Priest of Osiris as Osiris is a dying-and-rising god just as the character of Imhotep rose from the "dead". Oh and no, the real Imhotep didn't have an affair with the king's mistress thus condemning him to be mummified alive... well not that we know of anyways...

Imhotep, the man who became a god!

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