Imhotep (pharaoh)

Imhotep (Ancient Egyptian: ı͗ı͗-m-ḥtp) was an ephemeral ruler that probably reigned in the 9th Dynasty.^[1] However, he also may have ruled during the 10th Dynasty. Imhotep is only known from two rock inscriptions in the Wadi Hammamat.^{[2][3][4][5][6][1]}

Imhotep
Drawing of pharaoh Imhotep's cartouche, from a rock inscription in the Wadi Hammamat.
Pharaoh
Reign	Unknown
Predecessor	Unknown
Successor	Unknown
Royal titulary Praenomen Imhotep ı͗ı͗-m-ḥtp "(the one who) comes in peace"
Children	Djaty
Dynasty	9th Dynasty

Reign

The only event known from his reign in some detail, is a quarrying expedition to the Wadi Hammamat, perhaps to procure a monument for the king, led by his son Djaty.^[1][3] The large number of workmen (2350)^[3] sent out on this expedition, shows that Imhotep may not have had control over the Wadi Hammamat.^[1]

Another inscription from the Wadi Hammamat,^[7] mentions some work done by the eldest son of Imhotep.^[5] This work was probably done as part of an expedition, since the inscription lists numbers of people in different types of occupations that took part.^[5]