Where Is The Tomb Of Imhotep, Pharaoh Djoser’s Magician Hidden?

Ellen Lloyd - AncientPages.com - Egyptologists have unearthed many magnificent tombs. However, there are still burial places belonging to some of the most influential people in Egypt's ancient history that scientists have been unable to locate.

The Land of the Pharaohs refuses to give up some of its secrets. Still, it is a matter of time before archaeologists announce they have finally found the resting place of certain Pharaohs, Queens, high priests, or other individuals who can shed more light on ancient Egyptian history.

The tomb of King Djoser's magician, Imhotep, has not been found yet.

Imhotep was never a Pharaoh, but he was a fascinating individual whom the modern world has praised 3,000 years after his death.

Born in the 27th century B.C. Imhotep became famous for his extraordinary "intelligence and wisdom. Imhotep, or "he who comes in peace," was an ancient Egyptian genius and the great architect of the world's first known monumental stone building, the Step Pyramid at Sakkara." 1

Being the high priest of God Ra and the trusted advisor of the Pharaoh Djoser (reigned c.2630 - c.2611 BC), Imhotep and the Egyptian King "decided to build an enormous mastaba of stone, but at some point, during construction, they built another mastaba on top of the first—and then another on top of the second. They continued this process until they had enlarged the structure into the world's first pyramid. It was what we now call a "step pyramid," consisting of six terraces some 200 feet (60 m) high. Imhotep wanted the tomb to accommodate the Pharaoh's rise into the heavens." 1

Left: The step pyramid of Djoser. Credit: Olaf Tausch - CC BY 3.0 - Right: A statue of Imhotep at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Credit: Metropolitan Museum of Art - CC0

Egyptologists can today confirm with certainty that Vizier Imhotep was an individual of great importance, and "his high standing at court is indicated in the inscription on the base of a broken-off statue of Djoser where, after the name of the king, Imhotep's titles read:

The Treasurer of the King of Lower Egypt, the First after the King of Upper Egypt, Administrator of the Great Palace, Hereditary Lord, the High Priest of Heliopolis, Imhotep the builder, the sculptor, the maker of stone vases..." 2

However, Imhotep is credited with much more than only the construction of Djoser's step pyramid. Imhotep also worked as a physician, astronomer, and writer during his lifetime. His knowledge was so vast and impressive that he received a divine status. He became worshiped as the god of medicine in Egypt and Greece, where he was identified with the Greek god of medicine, Asclepius.

"He is said to have extracted medicine from plants and treated diseases such as appendicitis, gout, and arthritis." 1

As his fame grew, he became the patron of scribes and was considered God Ptah's son. Few non-royal ancient Egyptians were given divine status, but Imhotep's healing mastery earned him the glory of being worshipped as a deity.

Considering the importance of Imhotep's role in ancient Egypt, one would naturally want to learn more about this fascinating individual. Finding his tomb would be beneficial to Egyptologists. Some attempts to locate Imhotep's burial place have been made, but the whereabouts of his grave are still unknown. Logic dictates Imhotep's tomb should be somewhere in Saqqara, perhaps near Pharaoh Djoser's burial complex.

"A few years ago, the world of Egyptology was more or less electrified by the discovery of what might have been the tomb of Imhotep.

Unfortunately, we can't be more specific than that. The tomb is—or isn't—at Sakkara, one of a group of large Third Dynasty mastabas—those of important people, to judge by size.

Not only were all these tombs thoroughly plundered in antiquity, but they were also virtually destroyed by later builders.

Walter Emery, who first excavated in the area, believed that Imhotep's tomb was somewhere and that it served as the cult center for a Ptolemaic temple dedicated to the deified vizier. Ensuing excavations uncovered a fantastic labyrinth of underground galleries containing the mummies of hundreds of thousands of ibises and baboons. These animals were sacred to Thoth, god of learning, who was regarded as the divine father of Imhotep.

Perhaps one of the desecrated tombs was his. Maybe it is yet to be found. People are still looking." 3

Archaeologists think the northern part of Saqqara is likely home to several high-status tombs, but the area has not been properly excavated. It is a vast region where digging is labor-intensive and time-consuming.

Who knows, maybe archaeologists excavating in Egypt will tell the world anytime soon they have finally unearthed the tomb of Imhotep, or perhaps it will never be found. Treasures of ancient Egypt tend to be hidden for long. Only time can tell.

Written by Ellen Lloyd – AncientPages.com

Updated on Oct 19, 2023

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