Breaking the Noses on Egyptian Statues

Edward Bleiberg, Senior Curator, Egyptian, Classical, and Ancient Near Eastern Art, Brooklyn Museum Why are the noses broken on Egyptian statues? Why were other sculpted body parts, including eyes, mouths, arms, and feet, purposely shattered in antiquity? Focusing on the ancient world of the pharaohs and on the Late Antique world that emerged following Egyptian conversion to Christianity, Edward Bleiberg examined the patterns of damage inflicted on Egyptian images for personal, political, religious, and criminal reasons. He also highlighted how close inspection of statue damage can reveal who damaged the statue and why. Recorded September 26, 2019