The Great Sphinx of Giza: The Riddle of the Sands

The Great Mysteries of the Sphinx

The facts are fascinating, but the mysteries are what make the Sphinx so captivating.

1. The Mystery of the Missing Nose

This is the most-asked question, and it’s time for some “myth-busting”!

• The Myth: A popular story claims Napoleon’s soldiers shot the nose off with a cannon when they arrived in 1798.
• The Truth: This is 100% false. We have 18th-century sketches of the Sphinx (drawn before Napoleon was born) that show the nose was already missing.
• The Real Story: Historical records show the nose was likely destroyed in the 14th century (1378 AD) by a devout Sufi Muslim named Muhammad Sa’im al-Dahr. He became enraged when he saw local peasants making offerings to the Sphinx, praying to it for a good harvest (they believed it was the “talisman of the Nile” that controlled the flood). In an act of iconoclasm, he smashed the nose off. Archaeologists examining the face believe he hammered chisels into the nose (one from the bridge, one from the nostril) and then pried it off. Al-Maqrizi, an Egyptian historian, wrote that authorities later executed al-Dahr for this act of vandalism.

2. The Mystery of the Missing Beard

You’ll also notice the Sphinx is missing its long, ceremonial pharaonic beard. But was it?

• The Theory: Pieces of this beard were found in the sand (you can see a fragment in the British Museum). However, some Egyptologists, like Vassil Dobrev, believe the beard was a later addition, perhaps in the New Kingdom, 1,000 years after the Sphinx was built.
• The Evidence: His theory is simple: if the original, heavy beard had fallen off, it would have left significant damage on the chin. The lack of damage suggests it was a later, less-integral addition.

3. The Mystery of the “Dream Stele”

Why was the Sphinx buried in sand for most of its life? The Sphinx itself tells us the story.

• The Dream: For thousands of years, the Sphinx was buried up to its neck in sand. According to legend, a young prince named Thutmose IV went hunting and fell asleep in its shadow. The Sphinx (seen as the god Hor-em-Akhet or “Horus in the Horizon”) spoke to him in a dream. It promised to make him the next pharaoh if he cleared away the sand and restored the monument.
• The Reward: Thutmose did exactly as the god asked. He cleared the sand, repaired the Sphinx, and, just as promised, he became king.
• The “Thank You” Note: To celebrate, Thutmose IV placed a massive, red granite slab, known as the “Dream Stele,” right between the Sphinx’s front paws. You can still see this 3,400-year-old “thank you” note today!
• The Name: This stele is key to the Sphinx’s name. The ancient Egyptians called statues like this “Sshp-ankhw,” meaning “living image of the god.” The word “Sphinx” is actually a Greek word and is likely a mispronunciation of the original Egyptian name.

4. The Mystery of its True Age

For decades, a debate has raged about the Sphinx’s true age.

• The Mainstream View: The vast majority of archaeologists and Egyptologists agree it was carved by Pharaoh Khafre 4,500 years ago.
• The Fringe Theory: Other theories exist. Some point to erosion patterns on the bedrock, suggesting the statue’s base may be much older. Some tests have even suggested an age of more than 10,000 years. This remains a fringe theory, but it adds to the Sphinx’s powerful aura of mystery.