Imhotep

Throughout History there have been few great heroes and inventors that truly changed civilization and made it into what it is today. With such courage, intelligence, and the simple human nature of discovery do these few citizens rise through the hierarchy and shape history. During ancient Egyptian times, there was one individual who was not only an inventor, but a priest, sage, poet, doctor, astrologer, vizier and chief minister (Dunn). He contributed so much to ancient civilizations that he was considered a G-d, not only to the Egyptians, but to the Romans, Greek, and even early Christians. (Dunn) Throughout his life he created pyramids, learned and treated diseases, and performed surgeries (Dunn). Imhotep shaped history throughout his life, though his greatest contributions were to architecture and construction, and his contribution to medicine and the health system.

Since Imhotep was no pharaoh or even royal, very little is known of his early life. Imhotep is believed to have been born during the third dynasty during the old kingdom (Malek, 125). He possibly came from a city called anktow which was a small city village in Memphis (Dunn). His Father was an architect named Kanofer and his mother possibly called Khredvonkh (Dunn). When Imhotep was born, he was merely a commoner, but through his intelligence and devotion he rose through the ranks quickly. During his life he accomplished many things. He became one of the high priest's of Heliopolis which was the religious capital of Egypt (Dunn). He was also the first Chief architect of Egypt.

As Imhotep built tombs for pharaohs and queens he always changed the design as he was building them. As he constructed and designed Netjerkhet's stone mastaba, he modified the design five times. Imhotep gradually became aware of the possibilities of using new building material and always used them; he never missed an opportunity (Malek, 11). Imhotep was also skilled in all areas of administration and royal enterprise (McDevitt). Imhotep was such a genius that was considered a G-d throughout Egypt (Nardo, 125). He was one of few people who were real, and not pharaohs, who was called a G-d in Egypt (McDevitt). Not only was he a God in Egypt, but he was also The G-d of Medicine, Asclepius in Greece (Dunn).

Imhotep's contributions to architect is his most famous and shaped history more than any of his other achievements. Through his design in the first pyramids he started the concept of manmade buildings. His design in the pyramid both amazed and intrigued other civilization into creating other massive buildings. As more building where made, new material was used, as well as new methods. Even in today's society Imhotep's work is still being seen throughout the world. Almost every building designed and constructed was built from the main concept that Imhotep thought of when he built his pyramid's for the Pharaoh's of Egypt. His most famous pyramid was the pyramid of King Djoser. During the reign of King Djoser Imhotep was Djoser's right hand (Graham et al. 57). Imhotep designed and led the construction of Djoser's massive step pyramid which was built around 2650 BCE. (Graham et al. 58).

Another one of Imhotep's famous mastabas was the mastaba of Netjeriknet. During the construction of this mastaba, the design was changed five times since Imhotep had so much material to use (Malek). His first adaption was four steps to the mastaba, and then he added two more steps. His connection with Netjeriknet was finally confirmed when a discovery was made in the base of a statue of Netjerikhnet with Imhotep's name inscribed on it (Malek).

Another one of Imhotep's Accomplishments that shaped history was his contributions to the health and medicine. Imhotep is recognized as the world's first doctor and