Philip Coppens' Falsehood about Imhotep's Alleged Admission of Alien Pyramid-Building Help

9/30/2012

In the recent DVD and streaming video version of The Ancient Alien Question, Philip Coppens asserts that Imhotep, the presumed architect of the Step Pyramid of Djoser, confessed to alien intervention. He states:

Imhotep says that the knowledge through which he was able to construct the pyramids was given to him by non-human intelligences.

Nothing in this claim is true.

Imhotep did not build “the pyramids” (in total); he built perhaps two. The first, and best documented, was Djoser’s step pyramid, which was not a true pyramid like the Great Pyramid since it was a series of increasingly small rectangular platforms (traditional Egyptian stone mastaba tombs) stacked atop one another. The second was unfinished, another step pyramid, this time for Sekhemket, Djoser’s successor.

But here’s the rub: Modern scholars identify Imhotep as the architect of these pyramids, but not contemporary sources. It is an inferences based on his court titles and his name's appearance on the walls of the pyramids. Late tradition claimed he invented building in stone, as recorded by Manetho 2,400 years after Imhotep’s death—but this is both untrue (stone buildings predate him) and a more likely result of backward reasoning from his reputation to presumed deeds.

Actually, Manetho never mentions Imhotep (this is a modern inference), instead conflating him with Djoser, who in Greek was called Tosorthos:

Tosorthos reigned 29 years. He is called Asclepius by the Egyptians, for his medical knowledge. He built a house of hewn stones, and greatly patronised writing.

(You can buy Manetho’s texts in my edition of Cory’s Ancient Fragments.)

In ancient Egypt itself, Imhotep was known for his wisdom and practice of medicine, of which he eventually became a minor god, later identified with Asclepius.

It is only modern people who created the inference that since Imhotep was Asclepius Manetho must have meant Imhotep who must therefore have built Djoser’s pyramid. (In the book version of Ancient Alien Question, Coppens fails to recognize this because he works mostly from secondary sources.) The discovery of Imhotep’s name at Saqqara confirms this inference, but it does not make it a genuine bit of ancient knowledge, much less the actual words of Imhotep that aliens gave him the plans.

Although Imhotep was known as the author of a book of maxims, none of Imhotep’s original writings survive, so he couldn’t have “said” anything directly, especially not about the pyramids that Egyptians didn’t remember that he had built, and especially not about aliens telling him to do it.

Besides, later Egyptian texts make plain that the Egyptians well understood the role of individual action in creating change. The Berlin Leather Roll, a New Kingdom copy of a twelfth dynasty text, documents the pharaoh delegating construction of an Amun temple to his architect whose “counsel” would carry “out all the works that my majesty desires to bring about. You are the one in charge of them…according to your designs.” In other words, the architect was expected to have (non-alien) individual initiative to design the temple.

So where did Coppens get his misinformation?

Fortunately, his ultimate source isn’t hard to find. It’s the Famine Stela, a Ptolemaic inscription created around 200 BCE, about 2,400 years after Imhotep died. On the famine stela, Imhotep—described as a high priest, not an architect—travels to Elephantine where he has a dream that the river god Khnum spoke to him and promised to make the Nile flood, bringing prosperity back to Egypt. The connection to architecture? Khnum promises Imhotep “stones upon stones” for building and restoring temples—clearly Khnum wasn’t inventing architecture for Imhotep (since temples—no pyramids are mentioned—must already have existed) but rather was promising a litany of natural resources to him, including river water and building stones.

But all of this is irrelevant since the story is a Ptolemaic invention millennia after the fact building on a widespread Near Eastern myth of the seven-year famine also found as far afield as the Epic of Gilgamesh and Genesis 41.

So, in one sentence Philip Coppens elides 2,500 years of history and serves it with a soupcon of untruth.

See also my follow-up post here.

Note: In response to Philip Coppens' complaint below, I have edited this post to remove the word "lies" to avoid any implication of intentional deception.

19 Comments

John J. McKay link

9/30/2012 09:52:41 am

But surely, the idea of stacking smaller things on top of bigger things and not the other way around is so difficult and complicated that no one could have figured it out without intervention by white guys from outer space.

Nick

9/30/2012 09:19:24 pm

Is there a worse name for a book/video than "the ancient alien question"? Anyways, love your stuff Jason.

Philip Coppens link

10/3/2012 05:17:41 am

I am the above Philip Coppens, and truly, apart from the contradictions in your own writing of this article (you claim both that Manetho did and did not mention Imhotep!!) you then twist my statements, and claim they are lies - at best, I think you could say they are mistakes, correct?

If you want to pretend they are lies, then please make a case that I deliberately set out to lie. However, if you want to discuss the above article, and want me to tear it apart line by line, I welcome the challenge.

Jason Colavito link

10/3/2012 05:26:59 am

Philip, how nice of you to stop by. Welcome! I'm happy to have you here. I trust you took the time to re-read what I wrote so you will see that I explained what you call a "contradiction"; it was an artistic choice to present the modern inference and then explain the reasoning that led to it. Manetho does not mention Imhotep; a modern syllogism leads to that conclusion, which I have carefully laid out using the original text, which you do not do in your Ancient Alien Question.

If you would like to prepare a statement explaining how you arrived at the conclusion that "Imhotep says that the knowledge through which he was able to construct the pyramids was given to him by non-human intelligences," I would welcome it. You can send it to me at JasonColavito@outlook.com, and I will run it on my blog unedited. The only thing I ask is that you use primary sources to support your contentions.

Now the question of "lies" is an interesting one. You are making the philosophical case that a "lie" must be a deliberate statement of untruth. This is a philosophical issue above my pay grade; but according to the OED, a "lie" is not necessarily deliberate. One can lie through ignorance or error.

I look forward to hearing from you!

10/3/2012 07:03:56 am

In order to be completely fair to you, Philip, I have edited the blog post to remove the word "lies" to dispel any implication of intentionality on your part. I look forward to reading your piece explaining the sources for your Imhotep statement.

10/3/2012 08:36:47 am

Jason Colavito is taking great interest in everything I say. He claims to be a “Skeptical Xenoarchaeologist”, who runs a blog in which he essentially nitpicks.

Interested by my DVD “The Ancient Alien Question”, he focused on the following one-liner. I am unsure whether he therefore agrees with the other contents of the DVD, or whether he just wanted to focus on this one-liner which clearly he doesn’t like.

Imhotep says that the knowledge through which he was able to construct the pyramids was given to him by non-human intelligences.

He comments: “Nothing in this claim is true.”

Isn’t it?

Before defending myself, I want to look at Colavito’s attack:
“Imhotep did not build “the pyramids” (in total); he built perhaps two. The first, and best documented, was Djoser’s step pyramid, which was not a true pyramid like the Great Pyramid since it was a series of increasingly small rectangular platforms (traditional Egyptian stone mastaba tombs) stacked atop one another. The second was unfinished, another step pyramid, this time for Sekhemket, Djoser’s successor.”

So Imhotep did build pyramids, correct? Where do I say he built all pyramids? Pyramids were built over hundreds of years. If I were to argue he built all of them, would you not think I might say he had found the secret of eternal life?

The argument that Djoser’s pyramid is not a “true pyramid” is just nonsense. Djoser’s pyramid is a pyramid – full stop. Stop talking nonsense.

Colavito then goes on endlessly about Manetho maybe or maybe not mentioning Imhotep. It has actually nothing to do with the point at hand. Mr. Colavito may think it is, but truly, it’s merely to make his blog entry look longer than it should be.

That Imhotep was involved with the building of the pyramid, is accepted by all. And nowhere in your blog entry do you provide evidence that this is an error. You may wish it was substantiated more – fine. But, hey, guess what, hundreds if not thousands of Egyptologists argue Imhotep was involved with Djoser’s Pyramid too. Why do you not create a blog post accusing them of the same crime you accuse me of? Or at least include them in this blog post? Why am I so special? I am neither the first, nor the last to claim Imhotep was involved with the building of this pyramid.

As Colavito himself says: “The discovery of Imhotep’s name at Saqqara confirms this inference.” So? You actually agree there is evidence. So why go on about there not being?

Then you add: “but it does not make it a genuine bit of ancient knowledge,” Doesn’t it? It’s pretty close, I hope you would agree, and given the circumstances, the best evidence – not? Which is why everyone else has no problem defining this as the best evidence – except Colavito, apparently.

Then you add: “much less the actual words of Imhotep that aliens gave him the plans.” I did not say “aliens” – I said non-human intelligences. Nor did I say they were the “actual words”. We’ll come to this later.

Then you add: “Although Imhotep was known as the author of a book of maxims, none of Imhotep’s original writings survive, so he couldn’t have “said” anything directly,” This is nonsense. For one, it implies that if someone never writes a book, nothing of that person’s sayings could survive? It happens every single day! There are millions of people interviewed on a daily basis on television who will never write a book or what they say, will be written down – but their sayings will survive, and can be transcribed.

Please explain to me why you bring in The Berlin Leather Roll and all that discussion – except to make your blog entry longer.
Though you have, after engaging you in conversation follow the post, asked me where I got my information, yet in your blog, you tell me you have found my source! So why bother asking me again? You already know, right?

“Fortunately, his ultimate source isn’t hard to find. It’s the Famine Stela, a Ptolemaic inscription created around 200 BCE, about 2,400 years after Imhotep died. On the famine stela, Imhotep—described as a high priest, not an architect—travels to Elephantine where he has a dream that the river god Khnum spoke to him and promised to make the Nile flood, bringing prosperity back to Egypt. The connection to architecture? Khnum promises Imhotep “stones upon stones” for building and restoring temples—clearly Khnum wasn’t inventing architecture for Imhotep (since temples—no pyramids are mentioned—must already have existed) but rather was promising a litany of natural resources to him, including river water and building stones.”

Mr. Colavito, seriously… Imhotep being described as

10/3/2012 08:40:43 am

Imhotep being described as a high priest, but not as an architect, do you seriously feel this destroys anything I said above? I know he is a high priest. It’s his title. We address Obama as President, not as “author”, “lawyer” or “professor”. Somehow, it seems the rules are different for Imhotep?

However, let me ask you: Khnum, he is a deity, as you yourself realize: he is a non-human intelligence as such, correct?

Now, let me quote the Famine Stela, simply because you fail to do so, and I wondered why – I mean, I just wanted to say “I wondered why” to cause doubt over your motive, as you like to cause doubt over everyone else’s motive too:
“I bestow on you stones upon stones,
That were not found before,
Of which no work was made,
For building temples,
Rebuilding ruins,
Inlaying statues' eyes.”

First of all, it is you who seems to suggest a pyramid is not a temple. You are in essence wrong there. Pyramids in Egypt were part and parcel of a large temple complex, and this remains extremely apparent for the Djoser Pyramid, which sits within a larger temple complex. So I think you made my point for me, not? If so, thanks – but seriously, I am not thanking you.

Now you may claim that the Famine Stela is two millennia after Imhotep lived; sure. But it likely replaced an earlier stela, which after two millennia must definitely have been in need of replacing. We replace stained glass windows of medieval cathedrals all the time. Please don’t tell me that this doesn’t mean that Chartres and Notre Dame don’t exist?

You conclude: “So, in one sentence Philip Coppens elides 2,500 years of history and serves it with a soupcon of untruth.”
My conclusion is that in one blog post, you have a go at me, casting doubt on my motivation and intelligence, pretending to find fault with what I write, but truly, you have not found anything. To recap:
Imhotep says that the knowledge through which he was able to construct the pyramids was given to him by non-human intelligences.

Imhotep had a dream, in which Khnum, a deity – i.e. a non-human intelligence – told him about working with stone, while everyone is in agreement that he was involved with the construction of the Djoser pyramid complex. If you want to claim that what I write is a falsehood or a lie – though you have since softened that claim – please address these two points, which will not merely see you go against me, but the entire world of Egyptology.
1) Prove that Imhotep was not involved with the Djoser Complex. You may say it is impossible to prove a negative, but I am sure you are up to it! In short, the link between Imhotep and Djoser is scientifically sound, accepted and not controversial whatsoever, except for someone like you who tries to make it seem as if I alone am unique in believing this, it seems. If you think I am, seriously, you know nothing.
2) The Faminine Stela mentions Khnum spoke to Imhotep. Please tell me why this isn’t evidence of contact with a non-human intelligence. For your information, I am not at all saying or even implying Khnum was a physical alien – in fact, as you probably realize – it is why I used the term non-human intelligence.

I wish you well.

But, you say: “Nothing in this claim is true.”

Can you seriously stand by that?

This is all I have to say about your blog entry. If you want to continue nitpicking, I am sure to jump in on occasion and leave some comments, but I think we've dealt with this issue. I am sure you may want to continue your posting by using ridiculous notions like "artistic choice" and I wish you well with wasting your and everyone else's time in writing and doing so. I, however, don't. I am sure that leaves me open for more name calling on your part! Somehow, I feel I stir something in you that you so hate, that I feel that whatever I do, I cannot change that.

Steel Buildings link

10/4/2012 12:50:25 am

All contents were expressed in a clear n simplified manner n it was meaningful too. You are a marvelous writer. Good work!

terry the censor

10/8/2012 06:39:58 pm

> I have edited this post to remove the word "lies"

Jason, I've just noticed that "lie" is right in the middle of "alien" -- coincidence?

10/8/2012 07:30:38 pm

Coppens cannot produce proper evidence for his statement that, "Imhotep says that the knowledge through which he was able to construct the pyramids was given to him by non-human intelligences." His quotation from the Famine Stela clearly does not support the statement.

Coppens is immediately reduced to the typical fringe tactic of attacking the criticism and hoping that, by process of eliminition only, his position is correct by default. In short, he is using a negative method of evidence. This doesn't work, as his countercriticism consists almost entirely of misrepresenting Jason's statements, for instance, by saying "you claim both that Manetho did and did not mention Imhotep!!" when Jason most certainly did not do that.

Finally, Coppens resorts to the saddest, most lame fringe tactic, which is imputing irrational motives to a critic: "I feel I stir something in you that you so hate, that I feel that whatever I do, I cannot change that."

I'll say it: Coppens is dishonest. Coppens can indeed change that, he just doesn't want to.

Terry link

10/9/2012 08:36:40 am

For an extremely longtime, I've been searching, Searching, ...AND SEARCHING for someone to OFFICIALLY refute and challenge this "Ancient Astronaut" stuff. I was so happy to RECENTLY discover "Ancient Astronauts Debunked" movie. The initial video was very-VERY long, but I found, and anxiously downloaded, the 3-part video, and after a very leisurely few days I FINALLY saw the entire film.

I wholeheartedly agree with Chris White. These things need to be SCIENTIFICALLY researched, which could disprove many of the statements made.

I used-to attend Cornell University when Dr. Carl Sagan was still alive, and he and I repeatedly would randomly chat about extraterrestrial life and Exobiology, etc., etc. I was extremely proud when he invited me to sit-in on the orientation class of the incoming astrophysics students class for 1978. We got into a riotous and highly animated discussion on astrophysics, Black Holes, and extraterrestrial life. I never forgot that. Many of the then students, I think one of them was Steve Squires who later was in charge of NASA's Mars (MER) Rover missions, thought that I was one of them (an astrophysicist) and, they were flabbergasted when I told them, as well informed I was to as they were, (I) ONLY did all this as a hobby (I was, then, an Chinese language and Asian Studies major); they were shocked and Dr. Sagan rolled-over laughing and almost fell on the floor (All of them said I SHOULD be an Astronomy/Astrophysics major).

I, as a person was brought-up on Star Trek, and (I) want desperately to believe in intelligent aliens and extraterrestrial life. BUT this "Ancient Astronaut" stuff pisses me -off, because the involved, so-called, facts do NOT live-up to the statements,claims and accusations. I so desperately want to believe in all this alien life stuff, ...BUT (!) as much as I love Stargate SG-1, I CAN-NOT believe that the pyramids were landing pads/sites for alien space-craft. (N)or can I believe that the Nazca plateau markings were made by extraterrestrials; my PERSONAL explanation was that they were an experiment in mathematics and trigonometry, ...NOT done by extraterrestrials!

Look at all the millions of dollars done on the 1947 Roswell, MN UFO sighting hoax, ...OR the persistence regarding the Bermuda Triangle (though the real Flight 19 was ACTUALLY found back in the 1970s-I remember because that's how I learned the difference between TBF and TBM torpedo bombers). You have to realize that these scams have been going-on for years and huge amounts of money have been and STILL being made from these hoaxes, and like these it's going to take a long-time and a lot of effort to DEBUNK, prove OR disprove them.

SORRY, I rambled-on some much; I was so happy to discovered this website.

10/9/2012 05:33:23 pm

Terry,

Dd you ever talk to Sagan about Velikovsky back in those days? I would love to chat with you if you did.

10/9/2012 06:49:53 pm

Since my conversations with Dr. Sagan occurred so long ago (1977-79), I can vaguely remember the exact specifics of what we actually chatted about (Some things like the beginning of the SETI project, [Frank] Drake's Equation, Exobiology, the Primordial Soup experiment (I first met Dr. Sagan while conversing with a research student at the Primordial Soup experiment flask; Dr.Sagan was standing at the door listening...). I DO remember.). I DO remember that these conversations were the basis' for my present-day insatiable appetite for anything astrophysics related (Hence my obsessive enthrallment for the Science Channel's "Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman" series).

The name "Velikovsky" does NOT ring a bell; sorry.

I do realize that the studies in Exobiology vastly differ today compared to so long ago. Mostly, while there is great debate regarding origins and historical records we recall rigid adherence and the refuted zealous belief in them, much must be realized regarding our being prisoners of our time and given perspectives. That is we are limited by the perspective of our times, and the previous writings we are so dependent upon have too their doubts and facts (stuck in thier perspectives and time). I DO remember how Von Danikens' books regarding "Ancient Astronauts" while providing an alternative explanations to such structures as the Pyramids, Nazca etc., STILL we are left with more rational explanations that CAN answer only SOME questions than leaving us with more holes in our limited perspectives. Example, with the improvements in mathematics, how come navigational trigonometry be included in the explanations? To me this provided a more rational explanation and left LESS holes in my questioning. As far as aliens ON earth, ...where are they today? Once being here, would NOT they have continued some, even limited, correspondence with us modern humans with our improved technology to comprehend better than our ancestors?

I do NOT have ALL the answers, BUT (!) I am NOT anxious to accept speculations that mask as science, without them having more reference sources as support (a.k.a. pseudo-science). REAL science requires proof, replication and substantiation. Provide this/these and skeptics vanish.

10/9/2012 06:50:40 pm

10/9/2012 06:48:15 pm

10/9/2012 06:48:46 pm

10/11/2012 05:02:16 am

Sorry about taking so long to get back. We're trying to sell the house and had an engineer's inspection yesterday.

Velikovsky was the great catastophist. His theory was about Venus and Mars pinballing through solar system, causing the miracles of the Bible, moving the pole, changing the length of the day, and then settling into their present orbits all within a few hundred years of recent historical time. Sagan was active in refuting his theories. They debated once. The remaining Velikovskiists hold a special animus for Sagan to this day.

go to this site link

6/26/2013 06:45:14 pm

I have seen sci-fiction films and historical films. And some of them depicted pyramids. I had always thought them to be developed by ancient Egyptians. But, the materials provided here contains great facts. I am starting to believe that aliens or higher intelligence as I like think, would have had a hand in it.

Aurora Kaiser

8/17/2017 12:26:35 am

I enjoy watching these videos about ancient aliens and the ridiculous assertions they make - but I am so happy you put this up. I was just watching this video and commented to my husband how summarily the narrator made that statement about Imhotep being instructed by aliens and how his entire argument hinged on that statement but he rushed past it conclusory after dragging on and on about less important parts of his argument. What joy upon googling it to immediately be able to confirm he made it up as suspected! (Ps I know this is a super old post, but all these entertaining videos are on Netflix now)

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