Restoration of Memory / Egyptian Building

At the top of mentioned mound sits the Egyptian Building, constructed for the Medical College of Virginia in 1838. The Egyptian Building is a replica of the Temple of Edfu in Kemet (Egypt) that was designed to fuse spiritual and scientific order, to be "a shrine, a sanctuary of tradition." Health and wealth were centralized community concerns. The House of Life is an African concept today that we refer to today as a hospital where sickness is treated. Imhotep Avenue reflects location of the currently residing medical college.

Imhotep is the first physician named in written history: an ancient ancestor whose legacy influenced the practice of medical and cultural institutions today. The original Father of Medicine,he was a doctor, architect, high priest, scribe and statesman. Though not a mystical figure, he was revered so highly as be considered a deity. His writings remain on Kemetian temples (in Egypt), and the monuments that he built still stand. One of those monuments is known as the Step Pyramid, or the Pyramid of Djoser (Third Dynasty) in Saqqara. The frame of ancient wisdom that Imhotep imparted was respect for the life giving aspects of nature, and to elevate humanity’s healing sciences, connections to land and omniversal participation with life. The Egyptian Building reflects colonial adaptations of life science and biotechnology centers from centuries of research on African ancestry

The Egyptian Building and colonial power in fact grew based on the availability of black anatomical subjects for medical experimentation. A film by the name When the Well Runs Dry highlights the omnious practice of grave robbing for medical experiementation. Bones were dug from the mound, researched and kept at the Smithsonian until 2019 when some of the bones were ceremoniously returned to Richmond.

Architectural symbolism of the Egyptian Buidling is rich for cultural reclamation on the road to wellness. A marble floor inlay of the Khepra bettle or scarab at the West building entranceway represents resurrection. At the exterior vestibule was the Heru Bedhet (or winged sun disk) found throughout KemetTemples representing the spiritual philosophy “Know Thyself” as a safeguard against injustices. The Egyptian Building, reflectve of the Temple of Heru illustrates African heroism, specifically the diety Heru, from which the word hero comes from. Heru is the original superhero: his name where the word hero is derived. One of the most popular warriors of all time, his powers are said to come from the sun. Also known as the Son of RA, he is a figure of divine strength and courage. His archrival is Set, better known as evil, who he must overcome to reclaim the throne of his father.

Reclaiming and restoration are longstanding traditions passed from father to son, and mother to daughter in ancient times. We owe the future generation capacities for renewal.