Editing Imhotep (section)

==Historicity==
[[File:Imhotep JE 49889.png|thumb|left|200px|Drawing of statue JE 49889 base inscription, which mentions Imhotep]]
Imhotep's [[historicity]] is confirmed by two contemporary inscriptions made during his lifetime on the base or pedestal of one of Djoser's statues {{nowrap|(Cairo JE 49889)}} and also by a [[Graffito (archaeology)|graffito]] on the enclosure wall surrounding [[Sekhemkhet]]'s [[Buried Pyramid | unfinished step pyramid]].<ref name=Malek>{{cite book |first=Jaromir |last=Malek |year=2002 |article=The Old Kingdom |title=The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt |editor-first=Ian |editor-last=Shaw |publisher=Oxford University Press |edition=paperback |pages=92–93}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=J. |last=Kahl |date=2000 |article=Old Kingdom: Third Dynasty |title=The Oxford Encyclopedia of Ancient Egypt|isbn=0195138228 |editor-first=Donald |editor-last=Redford |edition=1st |volume=2 |page=592}}</ref> The latter inscription suggests that Imhotep outlived Djoser by a few years and went on to serve in the construction of King Sekhemkhet's pyramid, which was abandoned due to this ruler's brief reign.<ref name=Malek/>

Imhotep held the ambiguous title ''bity sensen'' or ''bity senwy'', unique in ancient Egyptian history. This literally translates as "the King of Lower Egypt, the two brothers", and could be interpreted to mean that Imhotep might be twin brother of Pharaoh, which would explain his high position; with no known individuals with similar titles, however, interpretation remains highly speculative.<ref>Naunton, Chris (2018). ''Searching for the Lost Tombs of Egypt''. Thames & Hudson. p.&nbsp;44. {{ISBN|978-0500051993}}.</ref> If not a blood relative, he might have been the King's confidant or childhood friend.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Naunton |first=Chris |title=Searching for the Lost Tombs of Egypt |publisher=Thames & Hudson |year=2018 |isbn=978-0500051993 |page=44}}</ref>

===Architecture and engineering===
[[File:Sakkara, la pyramide LCCN2017656975.jpg|thumb|{{center|The step pyramid of Djoser}}]]
{{Main|  Ancient Egyptian architecture}}

Imhotep was one of the chief officials of the [[Pharaoh]] [[Djoser]]. Concurring with much later legends, Egyptologists credit him with the design and construction of the [[Pyramid of Djoser]], a [[step pyramid]] at [[Saqqara]] built during the [[3rd Dynasty]].<ref>{{cite book |author-link=Barry J. Kemp |first=B.J. |last=Kemp |title=Ancient Egypt |publisher=Routledge |year=2005 |page=159}}</ref> He may also have been responsible for the first known use of stone [[column]]s to support a building.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Baker |first1=Rosalie |last2=Baker |first2=Charles |year=2001 |title=Ancient Egyptians: People of the pyramids |url=https://archive.org/details/ancientegyptians0000bake/page/23 |publisher=Oxford University Press |page=[https://archive.org/details/ancientegyptians0000bake/page/23 23] |isbn=978-0195122213 }}</ref> Despite these later attestations, the pharaonic Egyptians themselves never credited Imhotep as the designer of the stepped pyramid, nor with the invention of stone architecture.<ref>{{cite book |first=John |last=Romer |title=A History of Ancient Egypt from the First Farmers to the Great Pyramid|isbn=9780141399713 |publisher=Penguin Books |year=2013 |pages=294–295}}</ref>