<span class="SFPTagline"> From SCIFIPEDIA </span>

Imhotep (meaning "the one who comes in peace") was an Egyptian polymath, who served under the Third Dynasty king, Djoser, as chancellor to the pharaoh and high priest of the sun god Ra at Heliopolis. He is considered to be the first architect and physician known by name in history. The full list of his titles is: Chancellor of the King of Lower Egypt, First 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.

As with Hatshepsut and Senemut's later relationship, Imhotep is one of very few mortals to be depicted as part of a pharaoh's statue. He was one of only a few commoners ever to be accorded divine status after death. The centre of his cult was Memphis. From the First Intermediate Period onward Imhotep was also revered as a poet and philosopher. His sayings were famously referred to in poems: I have heard the words of Imhotep and Hordedef with whose discourses men speak so much.

Pop Culture

• In the fifth season of Stargate SG-1 in the episode "The Warrior", Imhotep was a Goa'uld who posed as his first prime K'tano in an attempt to unite the rebel Jaffa under his leadership to gain power.

• In the 1999 film The Mummy Imhotep serves as the film's villain. Once a high preist, he fell in love with the wife of the Pharoh and the discovery of their affair led to his being mummified alive.