Imhotep was the deified architect who later became a god of medicine and healing in ancient Egypt.
Imhotep served Pharaoh Djoser during Egypt's 3rd Dynasty and was a high-ranking official, priest, and royal administrator. Egyptologists traditionally associate him with the design of Djoser's Step Pyramid at Saqqara, one of the earliest monumental structures built largely from stone. His historical career belonged to the Old Kingdom, probably around the 27th century BCE.
Imhotep was not originally worshipped as a medicine god. His reputation grew gradually after his death, and references to his healing powers appear much later, especially from the Thirtieth Dynasty onward. His principal cult center was Memphis, where he was associated with the god Ptah.
A common mix-up is treating Imhotep as a contemporary physician whose medical writings survive. There is no firm evidence that he personally practiced medicine. Greeks later equated him with Asklepios, their own god of healing, reinforcing his reputation as a divine healer.