Why Do Egyptian Statues Have Broken Noses?

This mystery has left archeologists and history enthusiasts scratching their heads for decades.

Sal
Lessons from History
4 min readMar 9, 2021

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Photo Credits: Nile FM

In the world of Ancient Egypt, statues were an integral part of their culture. Amidst the grand architecture that ranged from lavish palaces to wonders like the pyramids were statues of nobles and pharaohs for all the dynasties that ruled. These statues, however, follow a trend that has left archeologists and history enthusiasts scratching their heads for decades — a case of broken noses.

For as many statues in pristine conditions, there would be ones that showed signs of decay, specifically in one particular area: the nose. Some would surprisingly be in excellent condition except for one flaw, a broken nose! From conspiracy theories about colonialism to political rivalry within the Egyptians as causes, this is the enigma of Egyptian statues and their broken noses.

Getting the conspiracy out the way.

Many people who have read into the case of missing or defaced noses in Egyptian statues believe it to be the work of European colonialism. It is said that in an attempt to cleanse the statues of their African roots, the noses were broken as Africans have distinct noses, which are their defining features. This theory…

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Sal
Lessons from History

I am a History Educator and a Lifelong Learner with a Masters in Global History.