Amunhotep-son-of-Hapu was a courtier, who was employed as a royal scribe and "overseer of all the work of the king" in the reign of Amunhotep III (Dynasty XVIII). Later, in the Ptolemaic period, he was deified on account of his reputation for wisdom.
Amunhotep came from Athribis in the Delta area, and rose to power in the Theban court. He was responsible for recruiting military personnel and labourers for state building projects. As Pharaoh’s chief architect he would have been involved in most of the lavish building programme, not only in Thebes but also in Nubia.
He was Pharaoh’s most trusted and privileged official, being given management of the vast estates of Sitamun, the eldest royal daughter, and exclusively for a commoner, awarded a mortuary temple. Here, he is portrayed as a corpulent seated scribe. He is believed to have lived into his eighties; his tomb is in the Theban necropolis.
Of all his titles, Amunhotep seems to have been most proud of "royal scribe". His cult seems confined to Thebes, where he was worshipped as a benefactor and healing genius. At Deir el-Bahari, Deir el-Medina and the temple of Ptah at Karnak, he shares his cult with Imhotep, of whom he is claimed to be the inseparable brother.
His statues in the main Karnak temple were often prayed to, as being the way to gain access to the greater deity, Amun.
Main center of worship:
Thebes, where he was worshipped in conjunction with Imhotep:4th Nome,upper Egypt
Other places:
Deir el-Bahari, 4th Nome, Upper Egypt
Deir el-Medina, 4th Nome, Upper Egypt
Temple of Ptah at Karnak, 4th Nome, Upper Egypt
