Imhotep
Imhotep
Imhotep (/ɪmˈhoʊtɛp/; Ancient Egyptian: ỉỉ-m-ḥtp *jā-im-ḥātap*, in Unicode hieroglyphs: 𓇍𓅓𓊵:𓏏*𓊪, "the one who comes in peace"; late 27th century BC) was an Egyptian chancellor to the pharaoh Djoser, probable architect of the Djoser's step pyramid, and high priest of the sun god Ra at Heliopolis. Very little is known of Imhotep as a historical figure, but in the 3000 years following his death, he was gradually glorified and deified.
Etymology
The name "Imhotep" translates as "the one who comes in peace". It is derived from the Egyptian words "ỉỉ-m-ḥtp".
Medical Contributions
Imhotep is considered by many to be the first architect, engineer, and physician in history. His reputation as a skilled physician and healer led to his being deified and worshipped as a god of medicine in Egypt and Greece. He is said to have been the author of a medical treatise remarkable for being devoid of magical thinking: the so-called Edwin Smith Papyrus containing cures for many ailments.
Related Terms
- Pharaoh: The political and religious leader of the Egyptian civilization.
- Chancellor: A senior state official, usually the head of the government in many nations.
- Edwin Smith Papyrus: An ancient Egyptian medical text and the oldest known surgical treatise on trauma.
- Heliopolis: An ancient Egyptian city.
See Also
This WikiMD.org article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.