Imhotep
/ɪmˈhoʊtɛp/noun
An ancient Egyptian official, architect, physician, and later-deified healer who served Pharaoh Djoser.
Did you know?Centuries after his death, Imhotep was deified as a healer and identified by the Greeks with Asclepius, their god of medicine.
Etymological Timeline
27th Century BCE
Egyptian
ỉỉ-m-ḥtp
“He comes in peace; the name of Djoser’s high official and architect”
27th Century BCE
Egyptian
Imḥtp
“A shortened or conventional rendering of the name, associated with the builder of Djoser’s Step Pyramid”
Late Period Egypt
Egyptian
Imḥtp
“A revered sage and healer who had become the subject of a developing religious cult”
Ptolemaic Period
Greek
Imouthēs
“Greek form of Imhotep, worshipped as a divine healer”
19th Century
English
Imhotep
“The standard English form of the ancient Egyptian name”
Modern English
English
Imhotep
“The historical architect and physician, also remembered as a deified healer”