# The head was recut from a larger animal head in the Old Kingdom, by Khufu or Khafre.

> Still possible: The head was recut from a larger animal head in the Old Kingdom, by Khufu or Khafre.

Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/great-sphinx/answers/ANS0CTWSWKP7QFT/the-head-was-recut-from-a-larger-animal-head-in-the-old  
Publisher: Mysteries Department  
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page)  

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[Questions](https://mysteriesdept.com/questions)[Great Sphinx of Giza](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/great-sphinx)[Was the head recarved from an earlier head?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/great-sphinx/questions/QST0CTWSDQ421NG/was-the-head-recarved-from-an-earlier-head)Answer

Answer · Great Sphinx of Giza

# The head was recut from a larger animal head in the Old Kingdom, by Khufu or Khafre.

The head was recut from a larger animal head in the Old Kingdom, by Khufu or Khafre.

**Still possible** Answers **1** questionPublished0

## Where it stands

**Still possible** Its tests haven't settled it: one piece of evidence for, none against. It needs two reviews to be accepted.

## What it predicts

- Tool marks or surfaces around the neck and lappets belong to a second carving phase.
- The neck is narrower than the original rock allowance shown by the shoulders.

## What would rule it out

- A continuous carved surface from head to shoulders with one phase of tooling.

## Evidence 1 for · none against

[Reader's 2026 book argues that Khufu recut a Mafdet head in his own image.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/great-sphinx/evidence/EVD0CTWSWVG5V7X/readers-2026-book-argues-that-khufu-recut-a-mafdet-head-in)

Speculative

FOR

## The questions it answers

[Was the head recarved from an earlier head?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/great-sphinx/questions/QST0CTWSDQ421NG/was-the-head-recarved-from-an-earlier-head)

Part of [What did the Sphinx originally represent?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/great-sphinx/questions/QST0CTWSDFA7K8D/what-did-the-sphinx-originally-represent)

Most likelyThe head is as first carved; its size reflects the block of Member III rock available and a deliberate layout

## Cite it

```
Mysteries Department. (2026). The head was recut from a larger animal head in the Old Kingdom, by Khufu or Khafre. [Answer ANS0CTWSWKP7QFT]. https://mysteriesdept.com/r/ANS0CTWSWKP7QFT
```

Key

**ANS** 0CTWSWKP7QFT

Kind

Answer · hypothesis

Origin

Published

Version

1

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