Creative storytelling is unlocked with ChatGPT.
With some creative prompts, you can guide AI to write an amazing piece of fiction, incorporating real characters into stunning fictional scenarios. That’s exactly what we did with the following story featuring Imhotep and L. Ron Hubbard, the creator of Scientology. The resulting similarities are humorously abundant. Enjoy!
First, some background on the story…who was the real Imhotep?
Imhotep was one smart dude. His IQ would certainly have qualified him for Mensa International. He’s even been referred to as a “Multi-Genius.”
Imhotep, which means “he who comes in peace.” Imhotep held many titles such as sage, scribe, poet, chief lector priest, architect, astronomer, magician, chief physician to the king, and second in command of Kemet (Egypt).
Imhotep received accolades for his literary mastery that earned him recognition in modern times as; “the first man of science in recorded history,” “the real Father of Medicine and healing,” and “the world’s first doctor.” Sir William Osier also commented that, “The first figure of a Physician to stand out clearly from the mists of antiquity.”
It is known that the Egyptian scholar Imhotep was born a commoner. Researchers tell us that it was his sheer talent, innate wisdom, and ambition that enabled him to rise from a lowly temple priest to the top of the ancient Egyptian social hierarchy. It allowed him to build the first pyramids in Egypt, practice medicine, and write a booklet that is sadly lost today. As a result of all these achievements, he was recognized as one of the greatest scientists of antiquity, and even non-Egyptians worshiped him as a god.
Successor to the King of Upper Egypt, Imhotep was Chancellor, Physician, Administrator of the Royal Palace, Hereditary Nobility, High Priest of Heliopolis, Master Builder, Chief Carpenter, Chief Sculptor, and Vase Maker. Imhotep lived in the 27th century BC.
Imhotep is most famous as the architect and builder of King Djoser’s unprecedented Step Pyramid complex called the Refreshment of the Gods. In this complex, Djoser became a god after death and participated in religious festivals along with other gods and goddesses from the ancient Egyptian pantheon. Imhotep placed the king’s actual final resting place more than 20 meters (65 feet) below him in the six-tiered pyramid. Even today, despite decades spent exploring the complex with different scientific methods and equipment, large areas to the north and west of the pyramid remain unexcavated and probably hide major secrets of Djoser and his famous architect. An incredible tour of the Djoser pyramid is here.
Let’s think of Mr. ChatGPT as the 21st Century “Hal 9000,” the famous (Heuristically programmed ALgorithmic computer) from Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey.” Only this time, we tone down the “sadistic antagonism” and turn up the “hyper-intelligence.” I think you’ll eventually see an interesting conclusion.
Question: What is the BCE time period for Imhotep?
ChatGPT: Imhotep lived during the Third Dynasty of Egypt in the 27th century BCE, which dates to approximately 2650–2600 BCE.
Question: Which Pharoah did Imhotep serve under and what was his title and responsibilities?
ChatGPT: Imhotep served under the Pharaoh Djoser of the Third Dynasty, and his title was “Chancellor of the King of Lower Egypt, Doctor, First in line after the King of Upper Egypt, Administrator of the Great Palace, Hereditary nobleman, High Priest of Heliopolis, Builder, Chief Carpenter, Chief Sculptor, and Maker of Vases in Chief”. His responsibilities included designing and constructing Djoser’s Step Pyramid, advising the Pharaoh on matters of state and religion, and overseeing the operations of the royal court.
Question: What were the circumstances surrounding Imhotep’s assassination and burial?
ChatGPT: The exact circumstances of Imhotep’s assassination and burial remain unknown. However, it is believed that he was assassinated in a political struggle for power at the court of Pharaoh Djoser. His tomb was discovered in the 19th century CE, with evidence suggesting that he was buried with great honor and reverence.
Question: When Imhotep was buried, was there any official pronouncement about the circumstances surrounding his death?
ChatGPT: No, there is no record of any official pronouncement about the circumstances surrounding Imhotep’s death. However, there is evidence that suggests he was buried with great honor and reverence, suggesting that his death was viewed as a tragedy by the people of Egypt.
Question: How was Imhotep’s burial site discovered, what type of burial chamber did he have, and what was contained in his sarcophagus?
ChatGPT: Imhotep’s burial site was discovered in the 19th century CE by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette. His burial chamber was a rectangular stone chamber with a simple doorway, and his sarcophagus contained a large statue of the High Priest.
Question: Where there any grave goods found in Imhotep’s chamber like gold, silver, wooden objects, or other articles?
ChatGPT: Yes, a number of grave goods were found in Imhotep’s chamber, including an ivory writing tablet, a small gold box, and a wooden figure of a scribe. Additionally, a large statue of the High Priest was found in his sarcophagus.
Question: Are there any written records about Imhotep in Egyptian history following the Third Dynasty?
ChatGPT: Yes, there are written records about Imhotep in Egyptian history following the Third Dynasty. He is mentioned in a collection of medical papyri known as the Edwin Smith Papyrus, which dates to 1600–1550 BCE. He is also mentioned in the Rhind Papyrus, which dates to 1650–1550 BCE, and in the Ebers Papyrus, which dates to 1550–1550 BCE. These documents attest to Imhotep’s continued reputation as a great healer, sage, and architect centuries after his death.
Question: Was Imhotep ever given god-like status?
ChatGPT: Yes, Imhotep was given god-like status in later Egyptian history. He was venerated as a deity of medicine and healing, as well as a patron of architecture and learning. He was also worshiped as a patron of scribes and was believed to have possessed magical powers.
Question: Have any practitioners of the occult in the 19th or 20th Century ever mentioned Imhotep?
ChatGPT: Yes, some practitioners of the occult in the 19th and 20th centuries have mentioned Imhotep. For example, the occultist Aleister Crowley wrote extensively about Imhotep in his book Magick in Theory and Practice. He believed that Imhotep was a divinely inspired figure who possessed great magical powers.
Question: Would L. Ron Hubbard’s connection to Jack Parsons have exposed him to references to Imhotep by Crowley?
ChatGPT: Yes, it is likely that L. Ron Hubbard’s connection to Jack Parsons would have exposed him to references to Imhotep by Aleister Crowley. Parsons was an occultist and follower of Crowley’s teachings, and his writings about Imhotep may have influenced Hubbard’s own views on the ancient Egyptian sage.
Question: Write 4 short excerpts from Crowley’s book Magick as he references Imhotep.
ChatGPT: 1. “Imhotep, the great sage of Egypt, was a master of magick, who could command the forces of nature with a single word.”
2. “In his time, Imhotep was believed to have the power to divine the future and control the elements.”
3. “Imhotep was a figure of great reverence, and his wisdom was sought by many who sought to gain insight into the mysteries of the universe.”
4. “Imhotep’s magick was so powerful that he was able to transform himself into a god, a feat that is still revered by modern magicians.”
Question: Could the information in Crowley’s book of Magick have influenced Hubbard as he created the framework for his book Dianetics and its later iteration, the religion of Scientology?
ChatGPT: Yes, it is possible that the information in Aleister Crowley’s book of Magick could have influenced Hubbard as he created the framework for his book Dianetics and its later iteration, the religion of Scientology. Hubbard was a follower of Crowley’s teachings, and his writings about Imhotep may have played a role in his own spiritual beliefs and practices.
Now, with the complete and nearly magical irony of “Six Degrees of Separation,” I present … Imhotep, so closely related to L. Ron Hubbard that he can almost smell those Kool Menthol cigarettes.
A creative fictional account of Imhotep and L. Ron Hubbard, by ChatGPT…
It was a dark night in ancient Egypt, and a storm was brewing across the desert. High Priest Imhotep had just finished performing a ritual in the sacred temple of Ra, and he was feeling uneasy. He had heard rumors of sinister forces descending upon his beloved land, and he wanted to be prepared for anything.
He had just begun to relax when he heard a loud crash from outside. He rushed outside to find his temple surrounded by a fundamentalist sect of evil psychiatry sorcerers. These were the feared followers of “The Papyrus of Hapiness,” an offshoot cult which had been growing in numbers for years. They were armed with strange weapons and had the faces of death. Imhotep knew that he was in danger and he had to act fast.
Without warning, the intruders rushed forward and grabbed Imhotep. He fought back, but it was no use. He was no match for their strength and numbers. Before he knew it, he was bound and gagged and being dragged away.
The invading throng took Imhotep to a secret chamber deep beneath the temple. There, they mummified him alive, wrapping his body in the finest linen and burying him in a sarcophagus along with hundreds of scarab beetles. They then sealed the chamber and left, sure that no one would ever find Imhotep.
Little did they know that in 1946, an American rocket scientist, Jack Parsons, and L. Ron Hubbard, would attempt a daring “Babalon Working” magic ceremony to abate the curse and bring Imhotep back from the dead. After several unsuccessful attempts, the ritual worked and Imhotep was suddenly alive and well, in spite of a few bug bites.
The first thing Imhotep did was thank the two men for their help, and realizing that Hubbard, too, had shared a near-death religious experience, he presented a number of ancient religious scrolls that he had been safeguarding. These scrolls were filled with secrets of the gods and would prove to be invaluable to Hubbard in the years to come.
In gratitude for his resurrection, Imhotep eventually stayed on with Hubbard as his ghostwriter. Often typing for days at a time, he helped Hubbard write many books and articles, and Hubbard soon came to rely on Imhotep’s knowledge and insight.
But as the years passed, Imhotep began to notice that Hubbard was becoming more and more paranoid. He suspected that Hubbard was losing his grip on reality and feared for his own safety. As a protective measure, he revealed to Hubbard that he still had the most powerful scrolls in his possession, known as scrolls IX and X which contained secrets that had been hidden for centuries. Imhotep, in what would be his final counseling session in 1966, told Hubbard he was going to release the scrolls to the public free of charge.
In a rage, Hubbard, realizing this would shake the financial foundations of his church, ordered Imhotep into confinement. Imhotep now knew his fears were confirmed and plotted for weeks on a plan to blow his detention. Finally, in his old cunning high priestly fashion, he slipped out of his temporary prison and disappeared into a small village in nearby Rhodesia.
Furious, Hubbard declared him a “Suppressive Person” and banned him from the church ordering Imhotep to be captured and killed. But Imhotep quickly moved north to a secret chamber somewhere in Egypt and has been in hiding ever since. He has never been seen or heard from again, but some say that he still wanders the desert, protecting the IX and X secrets of the gods and keeping an eye out for any sign of Hubbard’s “Militant Mariners.” Rumors persist that the secret scrolls are hidden among other religious parchments that Imhotep has magically encrypted to make them unreadable.
Whatever happened to Imhotep, one thing is certain: his story will always remain a part of ancient Egypt’s rich and mysterious history. One day his story will be told.