When egyptologists uncovered Imhotep’s name, along with various titles including chief of the sculptors and chief of the seers and more it marked an extremely important part in piecing together the history of ancient Egyptians.

The inscription was found at the bottom of a statue of Djoser found at the site of the Ṣaqqārah pyramid, also known as the step pyramid and widely believed to be the first of it’s kind.

Djoser was a pharaoh, the second king of Egypt’s third dynasty,  (reigned 2630–2611 bce).Imhotep’s name on his statue was the first and maybe only time a pharaoh has been revered in carving in such a way, proving the importance of this seemingly extremely talented individual.

Imhotep is believed to be the architect of the step pyramid, the first of it’s kind in Egypt and the monumental structure that paved the way for the world wonders that came after it. By taking a standard tomb structure, a brick single layer construct, Imhotep built them up in steps, slowly expanding until the grand structure, which still stands over 4000 years later.

Just 100 years after his death Imhotep was considered a Deity in Ancient Egypt and worshipped as the god of medicine in Egypt and in Greece (known as Greek god of medicine, Asclepius).

Learn more about Imhotep on britannica.com