Imhotep, the vizier and physician of King Zoser and afterwards the Egyptain god of medicine / by Jamieson B. Hurry.

  • Hurry, Jamieson B. (Jamieson Boyd), 1857-1930.
Date:
1926
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Imhotep, the vizier and physician of King Zoser and afterwards the Egyptain god of medicine / by Jamieson B. Hurry. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    in the flesh, nor is anything told us of the steps by which he reached the highest post open to an official in Egypt. Descended from a distinguished architect named Kanofer Ki-nfr, and from a mother named Khreduonkh Hrdw-'nh, Imhotep appears to have received a liberal education, so far as such was possible in those far-off days. At any rate he grew up an erudite, versatile man, a sort of Aristotelian genius, who took all knowledge for his province. He was distinguished for his vast learning as well as for some striking achievements, and in the course of ages became generally recog¬ nized as the Egyptian god of medicine. His name Imhotep ]] signifies ‘ he who cometh in peace V a most appropriate name for a healer of the sick and one which must have brought solace and courage to many an anxious patient. It will be convenient to divide his career into three periods and to consider in order : I. Imhotep as Contemporary of King Zoser (ca. 2980 b. c.) II. Imhotep as a Medical Demigod (1ca. 2850 b. c.-Reign of Mycerinus) III. Imhotep as full Deity of Medicine (<ca. 525 b. c.-Persian Period) 1 For the construction and meaning of the name, cf. Ap¬ pendix B.