For a long time, the figure of Imhotep was considered exclusively mythical, without a real prototype. And data about him were stored only in the ancient legends of the Egyptians. Nowadays it is considered almost reliably established that Imhotep was not only a real person, but also the architect of the well-known Step Pyramid and the complex around it …
Back in 1926, during excavations in Saqqara, fragments of a statue of Pharaoh Djoser were found. On its pedestal, along with the name of Pharaoh Djoser, the following inscription was written: "Imhotep is the keeper of the treasury of the king of Lower Egypt, the first after the king in Upper Egypt, the manager of the great palace, the heir of God, the chief priest of Heliopolis, the builder, the architect, the sculptor of stone vases."
Manetho wrote that "during the reign of Pharaoh Djoser of the third dynasty, there lived Imutes (Imhotep), who, due to his medical skills among the Egyptians, had the reputation of Asclepius (the Greek god of medicine) and who was the inventor of the art of building from cut stone." Due to the high level of his knowledge, Imhotep was considered at that time "almost a god" and was even elevated to this high status, although there is no doubt that he was an ordinary person, and not an alien. But, perhaps, he was the "chosen one" among the people who gained access to the knowledge of the "gods" …
Another thing is very curious: the analogies that can be drawn between the Egyptian Imhotep and the biblical Joseph.
Judging by the information available to archaeologists and historians, Imhotep occupied an exceptionally high position in Egypt during the time of Djoser. The biblical Joseph also held a similar high position. Joseph's main office is prime minister, and Imhotep was also probably the first to boast such a wide range of powers in ancient Egypt.
A very important piece of evidence that connects Imhotep with Joseph is an inscription carved on a large stone found on the island of Sekhel near Aswan on the Nile River, called the Stele of Hunger. The inscription claims that it is a copy of a document written by Djoser in the eighteenth year of his reign. This copy, it says, was made more than 1000 years after the events described in it. She speaks of seven years of famine and seven years of abundance and finds some agreement with the biblical texts.
Joseph and his chosen one … "Anakhsenamun ?!"
Promotional video:
So, let's look at these coincidences, relatives of Imhotep and Joseph: 1. The story on the stele begins with the great calamity of Pharaoh: "I was in trouble on the Great Throne …" In the Bible: "In the morning, Pharaoh was very disturbed by his dreams." (Genesis 41: 8)
2. In the inscription, the pharaoh is concerned about the impending famine and asks Imhotep - who is the god of the Nile, who can solve the problem of drought: “… I asked him, the Manager … Imhotep, son of Ptah … what is the birthplace of the Nile? Who is the god there? Who is God?"
According to the text, Imhotep answers: "I need instructions from the One who controls the delivery of benefits …"
Bible: “And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying: I cannot interpret your dreams; but God can explain them to you. (Genesis 41:16)
3. In the Egyptian text Imhotep is called "the son of Ptah". Ptah is an Egyptian god known as the "creator" of everything, including other gods. The biblical God, as you know, is also considered "the creator of all things."
4. In the inscription, Imhotep tells the Pharaoh about the god of the Nile and tells him where he lives. In the Bible, Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dream. But the next text on the stele says that when the pharaoh was sleeping, the god of the Nile Khnum appeared to the pharaoh in a dream and promised that the Nile would pour out its waters and the earth would be in abundance for seven years after a seven-year drought. This passage, like the Bible, reports Pharaoh's dream of a seven-year abundance and a seven-year famine, albeit in a modified sequence.
5. Imhotep is the very first doctor about whom historical evidence has come down to our days. And although Joseph is not mentioned as a healer, the Bible provides one very important key to this: “And Joseph commanded his servants, the doctors, to embalm his father; and the doctors embalmed Israel. (Genesis 50: 2) It is specifically stated here that the doctors were under the direction of Joseph.
6. The Bible states that the Pharaoh of Joseph's time had already reigned for some period of time when Joseph was finally brought to him to explain the meaning of his dream. And the data clearly indicates that Imhotep was not Djoser's prime minister from the very beginning of his reign. In fact, there is no mention of Imhotep in Djoser's earlier monuments or other artifacts from that time. Some records of Imhotep's titles indicate that he was not a member of the pharaoh's family, but was "a man who achieved his position by his own strength" - like Joseph.
7. Imhotep was a "priest of Heliopolis". The biblical name for Heliopolis is "He". From the story of Joseph, we know that during Joseph's marriage, his father-in-law was "the priest She":
“Pharaoh gave Joseph a different name: Tsafnaf-paneach and gave him to wife Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, priest of Iliopolis (or She). And Joseph became the ruler of all Egypt”(Genesis 41:45).
Also, according to this version, the structures in Sakkara are huge granaries, which were under the jurisdiction of Imhotep / Joseph.
