6 THE HARVEIAN ORATION, 1904
I-em-hotep was established first in early times at Memphis. In, or adjacent to, some temple-per- haps that of Ra-I-em-hotep and his assistant priests gave advice and medical aid to multitudes of the sick and ailing. It is evident that he gained great renown for his skill and learning. When at length he died he was buried in or near the temple. The priests whom he had taught continued there the work of healing, always in association with his name. Just as the Greeks came to Epidaurus to be healed by Asklepios, so did the Egyptians, many centuries earlier, visit Memphis to seek help from I-em-hotep. It seems probable that in course of time the temple formerly dedicated to some well-known Egyptian god ceased to be known by his name, and in popular speech became the house of I-em-hotep. There is the clearest evidence of the existence of an important temple in later times dedicated to I-em-hotep at Memphis.
A hieroglyphic inscription describes I-em- hotep appearing in a vision to the high priest of Memphis, and addressing him thus :-'I desire that a great building be erected in the holy place at Anche-tewej (a part of Memphis), where my body is hidden, for building it I will give thee the reward of a son." We know this temple was built. Later again, similar temples were erected elsewhere; doubtless priest physicians were transferred from Memphis to new centres, just as to 1. Brugsch, Thesaurus, V, 923
