6. The Sphinx’s Nose Was Broken by Napoleon’s Troops
The popular tale that Napoleon’s soldiers shot off the Sphinx’s nose is simply a myth. Early sketches and travel accounts from before Napoleon’s Egyptian campaign already depict the Sphinx without its nose. Archaeological and historical evidence suggests the damage was caused by deliberate vandalism, most likely by a Sufi Muslim in the 14th century who objected to local religious practices. According to the BBC, Napoleon’s troops had nothing to do with the Sphinx’s missing nose.
