He and his priests later steal her corpse from her burial-place. They are discovered and Anck-Su-Namun commits suicide, intending that Imhotep resurrect her. He began an affair with Seti's mistress Anck-Su-Namun and they assassinate the Pharaoh when he discovers it. In 1290 BC, Imhotep was the high priest of Osiris under the rule of Pharaoh Seti I. In the 1999 remake, Imhotep is portrayed by Arnold Vosloo and is the main antagonist of the film. There is, however, a disagreement on if the tomb discovered actually does belong to Imhotep, because there is evidence that whoever was laid to rest in that tomb did not worship Ra.

Though the mummy of Imhotep has never been found, an empty sarcophagus was found in a tomb that is thought to have been his. He is also well-known for becoming his own priest and excelling in medicine where he was considered a healer, using plants to treat common diseases. The ancient Egyptian priest from the film is named after a famous Egyptian architect named Imhotep who was responsible for designing the step pyramid at Sakkara.

In the end, Grosvenor, recalling her past life, appeals to the goddess Isis who causes Imhotep to dissolve. His powers allow him to control others to take his orders, which gives him control and the ability to draw Helen Grosvenor to him, where she can never remember what she did or why she was with him. Imhotep is able to use years of power and strength to control others in person and through a looking pool from afar, causing both attraction to him and death to those he wishes it upon. When Bey meets a woman, Helen Grosvenor, who bears a striking resemblance to Anck-es-en-Amon, he realizes that she is a reincarnation of the princess and attempts to mummify her and make her his bride. In this form, he helps a new team of archaeologists find the tomb of Anck-es-en-Amon. Imhotep escapes from the archaeologists and ten years later has assumed the identity of Ardath Bey, a modern Egyptian. While reviewing his mummy, the archaeologists that discovered Imhotep note not only was he buried alive as indicated by his struggle, but that sacred spells meant to protect his soul on its journey to the underworld were chipped off his coffin, so his soul would be condemned in the afterlife. Imhotep is accidentally revived as a mummy when an archaeological expedition discovers his mummy and one of the archaeologists unknowingly reads the scroll's ancient life-giving spell. The scroll is buried with him so that no one would ever again have the chance to use it like he did.

For Imhotep's sacrilege, the princess's father Pharaoh Amenophis the Magnificent orders Imhotep to be tortured, mummified, and buried alive. In his original appearance, Imhotep was portrayed by Boris Karloff as a high priest of ancient Egypt who steals the Scroll of Thoth in an attempt to resurrect his dead lover Princess Anck-es-en-Amon.

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