CARGO Classroom 1.01

The exercise in this section is lifted directly from a CARGO Classroom resource for 14 to 15 year olds.

This is the main activity for the Imhotep lesson.

Please examine the sources provided and complete the activity below.

Source 1: Step Pyramid at Saqqara Egypt

It is the oldest pyramid in Egypt, built around 2,700 BCE, for the Pharaoh Djoser. A statue of Pharaoh Djoser in the pyramid names Imhotep and lists him as having many important titles, including Chancellor (person in charge of the finances), chief of the sculptors and High Priest of Amun-Ra. For that reason, it is thought that Imhotep was responsible for the construction of the pyramid. The pyramid is 62 metres high making it an incredible feat of engineering that has stood for 4,700 years.

Source 2: The Edwin Smith Papyrus

The Canadian Physician Sir William Osler described Imhotep as “the first figure of a physician to stand out clearly from the mists of antiquity”. He proposed that Imhotep was the “real father of medicine” – not the Greek Physician Hippocrates.

The famous Edwin Smith papyrus, named after the American dealer who bought it in 1862, is considered by many to have originally been written by Imhotep. This is the oldest known written manual of surgery and trauma and describes 48 cases of wounds, fractures, dislocations, and tumours.

Among the treatments described are suturing of wounds, splinting, bandaging, managing infections with honey and resins and the use of raw meat to stop bleeding. Immobilisation was advised for lower limb fractures and spinal cord injuries and it also includes detailed anatomical and physiological descriptions.

Source 3: The Book Of The Dead

This papyrus was made for Imhotep. It is known as the Book of The Dead of the Priest of Horus. It contains incantations, or prayers, which were intended to help him make a safe transition from death to eternal life. It is now on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Source 4: The Rod of Asklepios

Knowledge of Imhotep’s achievements became incorporated into stories about Asklepios, the Ancient Greek god of medicine. The symbol of a snake and staff was often carried by those who had significant power in ancient Egypt, and this symbol also became associated with Asklepios. The rod of Asklepios is recognised today as the universal symbol for the professional practice of medicine.

Source 5: Statue of Imhotep

Numerous statues of Imhotep have been found across the Mediterranean region, including in Spain, Italy, Greece, Egypt and Turkey, most dating between 1000-30 BCE. The statues typically depict Imhotep sitting on a throne (a symbol of power) with a papyrus scroll on his lap (a symbol of wisdom and learning).

These statues are evidence of the religious cult that developed around Imhotep. In the years after his death, he became a godlike figure across many Mediterranean civilisations. At different times and by different groups he was likened to Thoth, the Egyptian god of time, healing and wisdom, and Asklepios, the Ancient Greek god of medicine.

Using the comments section, share three things these sources tell us about Imhotep.