Imhotep (born c. 2630 BC)

Egyptian physician, architect, and vizier (chief adviser) of King Zoser (3rd dynasty). He is thought to have designed the step pyramid at Sakkara, the first pyramid ever constructed. Reputedly King Zoser's doctor, Imhotep was raised to the status of god of healing after his death and his tomb (believed to be in the north Sakkara cemetery) became a centre of healing. He was said to be the son of Ptah, the Egyptian god of the creative force, and was later identified with Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine.

Imhotep was important to ancient Egyptian medicine for the next 2,500 years, as Egyptian medical belief required that doctors treat their patients with both spiritual and rational methods. Doctors gave prayers to Imhotep as they treated their patients in the belief that he would intervene to help the healing process. Imhotep continued to be worshipped after the end of the ancient Egyptian period c. 400 BC. The ancient Greeks considered Imhotep and their god of healing Asclepius to be the same person, while the Romans continued to revere him over 3,000 years after his death. The Roman emperors Claudius I and Tiberius had inscriptions placed on their temples in Egypt praising Imhotep.