Imhotep—The Man Who Engineered His Own Divinity

In the 27th century BCE, there lived an incredible man named Imhotep. He was a commoner who arose to great prominence by impressing King Djoser, the second ruler of Egypt’s Third Dynasty, with his sheer genius in multiple fields of study. Imhotep was evidently a polymath who made groundbreaking discoveries and advancements in areas such as medicine, math, engineering, theology, and even art. The massive impact of his ideas on ancient Egypt was comparable in scope and importance to that of Aristotle in Greece and Confucius in China.

Benjamin Franklin

(Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity from the Sky, painted by Benjamin West, circa 1816, [Public Domain] via Creative Commons)

While there is a long list of impressive founding fathers from the era of the United States Revolution, very few even come close to the brilliance of Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790). The lifestyle and mindset displayed by Franklin served as an early model for American character and continues to be an inspiration for the  ‘American Dream.’ His diligence and unending drive for knowledge and industry continue to enamor those who read his Autobiography and learn about his life. His rags-to-riches story has given hope to generations of people who want to build a better life for themselves through sheer wit and willpower. Over the course of his life, Benjamin Franklin underwent a tremendous transformation, from a poorly educated boy who ran away from his family, to a world-acclaimed statesman, inventor, scientist and diplomat who was received as a guest by at least five kings.