** Imhotep (2650-2600bc) was an Egyptian (Kemetic) priest who was the first recorded physician in history.

 

** Imhotep is considered the father of medicine.

 

** The Edwin Smith Papyrus - the oldest true medical paper, was attributed to Imhotep. This papyrus, named after the dealer who bought it in 1862, is a medical treatise of ancient Kemet which describes 48 cases of injuries, fractures, wounds, dislocations and tumors.

 

While other papyri, such as the Ebers Papyrus and London Medical Papyrus, are medical texts based in magic, this is the first surgical textbook in history that differentiated between medicine and magic. The Edwin Smith Papyrus presents a rational and scientific approach to medicine in ancient Kemet.

 

Magic would be more prevalent had the cases of illness been mysterious, such as internal disease.

 

Apparently intended as a textbook on surgery, it begins with clinical cases of head injuries and works systematically down the body, describing in detail examination, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis in each case. It reveals knowledge of the relation of the pulse to the heart and of the workings of the stomach, bowels, and larger blood vessels.

 

** Imhotep also founded a school of medicine in Memphis, possibly known as Asklepion, which remained famous for two thousand years.

 

Just a couple of his other attributes:

 

** Imhotep was considered the first architect engineer and designed the first pyramid - the step pyramid.

 

** Imhotep was chancellor under King Djoser and ended a seven year famine in Egypt (Kemet).

 

** Hippocrates (460-370bc) was a Greek physician who is considered one of the most outstanding figures in the history of medicine. This culture teaches that Hippocrates was the father of medicine, but history says otherwise.

 

Hippocrates would have been somewhat of a student of Imhotep as he went to Egypt (Kemet) and consulted the library of Imhotep's temple to study Kemetic medicine.

 

** The Hippocratic Oath was named after Hippocrates.

 

The Hippocratic Oath (Ορκος) is perhaps the most widely known of Greek medical texts. It requires a new physician to swear upon a number of healing gods that he will uphold a number of professional ethical standards. It also strongly binds the student to his teacher and the greater community of physicians with responsibilities similar to that of a family member. In fact, the creation of the Oath may have marked the early stages of medical training to those outside the first families of Hippocratic medicine, the Asclepiads of Kos, by requiring strict loyalty.

 

In other words, even today (although it’s not required anymore) many medical doctors had to quote this oath as they officially entered their medical practice.

 

** The Hipocratic Oath begins with the phrase:

 

“I swear by Apollo the physician, and 👉🏿Asclepius (Imhotep)👈🏿, and Hygieia and Panacea and all the gods and goddesses as my witnesses, that, according to my ability and judgement, I will keep this Oath and this contract...”

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