Tag: ifoundimhotep

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Egyptian Artifacts

Statues of Imhotep

When it comes to ancient Egypt π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š–, I’m obsessed with a couple of different things in particular: Hatshepsut π“‡‹π“ π“ˆ–π“ŽΉπ“π“„‚π“π“€Όπ“ͺ, Ushabtis π“…±π“ˆ™π“ƒ€π“π“­π“€Ύ, Anubis π“‡‹π“ˆ–π“Šͺ𓅱𓃣, and Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ! I love going to see the statues of Imhotep at the museum and my Nonno always made it into a game – #IFoundImhotepΒ 

Statues of Imhotep
Me (and William) with the Statues of Imhotep on display at the MET

Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ was a real man that lived during Egypt’s π“†Žπ“…“π“π“Š– third dynasty (around 2700 B.C.E.) during the reign π“‹Ύπ“ˆŽπ“ of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Djoser 𓂦𓂋. While Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ is best known for being the architect of Djoser’s Step Pyramid (and Egypt’s first ever pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴), he was also a high priest π“ŠΉπ“› of Ra 𓇳𓏺𓁛! After his death, Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ became one of the few non-royal Egyptians to be deified.Β 

Statues of Imhotep
The Statues of Imhotep showing the quartzite one on the left and the bronze one on the right. The middle statue is a seated scribe and is not Imhotep.

There is not much that is known about Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ as a person while he was alive; most of what we know about Imhotep was written at the earliest 1,200 years after his death! Referred to as β€œSebayt π“‹΄π“ƒ€π“‡Όπ“„Ώπ“‡Œπ“π“›β€ in Middle Egyptian, these β€œinstructions” or β€œteachings” refer to Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ as a great physician and a writer! One text from the 20th Dynasty called β€œEulogy of Dead Writers” even states β€œIs there another like Imhotep?” 

Statues of Imhotep
The bronze Imhotep statue. Most statues of Imhotep look like this one!

Most statues of Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ are made of bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ (like you can see on the right side of this display) and are dated to the Ptolemaic Period, because that was when Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ was widely worshipped.Β 

The quartzite statue of Imhotep. It is not common to see Imhotep in stone, so this piece is a treat to see on display at the MET.

The statue of Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ on the left is so interesting because it is not made of bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ – it is made of the metamorphic rock quartzite!Β 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost. 

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Video

Video – Let’s Play #IFoundImhotep

My Nonno always made going to museums so much fun and I’m sure this is why I have always loved going to museums! 

One of our favorite things to see in a museum were the bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ of Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ! My Nonno would always point out Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ and tell me about all of the incredible things he did (like being the architect behind Djoser’s 𓂦 Step Pyramid 𓍋𓅓𓂋𓉴)! I have always been fascinated by Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ! 

My Nonno turned finding the Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ into a game, and I want to play the game with everyone!! Tag me in your photos or use the hashtag #IFoundImhotep on Instagram to show me your pictures of the bronze π“ˆ”π“€π“ˆ’π“¦ statues 𓏏𓅱𓏏𓀾π“ͺ of Imhotep π“‡π“…“π“Š΅π“π“Šͺ that are in your local museums!Β 

Let’s keep my Nonno’s game alive!

Imhotep Statue
The bronze statue of Imhotep at the Brooklyn Museum

π“™π“‹Ήπ“†–π“Ž›π“‡³π“Ž›