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Was the head recarved from an earlier head?

Asked 26 Oct 2026 by ·Part of What did the Sphinx originally represent?·4 answers·0·0 following
Most likely: the head is as first carved; its size reflects the block of Member III rock available and a deliberate layoutAhead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted.

Where it stands

Four answers have been proposed. The head is as first carved; its size reflects the block of Member III rock available and a deliberate layout. leads, with evidence 1 for: partly supported by its tests. Three are still possible.

Why it matters

The small head is the physical fact behind every non-royal reading of the Sphinx. Recarving would leave traces in the neck and the line of the headdress that can in principle be measured⁠[1]⁠[2].

Answers 4

Evidence: 1 for
Most likely
None of these.
Not tested enough to call either way
Evidence: none yet
Still possible
Evidence: 1 for
Still possible
Evidence: 1 for
Disputed

History

  1. Lehner puts forward: the head is as first carved; its size reflects the block of Member III rock available and a deliberate layout.
  2. Lehner: lehner's survey records the head carved from the harder Member III beds, a limited block, with the nemes and…For: The head is as first carved; its size reflects the block of Member III rock available and a deliberate layout.
  3. Temple & Temple puts forward: the head was recut in the Middle Kingdom from an earlier head.
  4. Temple & Temple: temple identifies the face as Amenemhat II's on stylistic grounds.For: The head was recut in the Middle Kingdom from an earlier head.
  5. Reader puts forward: the head was recut from a larger animal head in the Old Kingdom, by Khufu or Khafre.
  6. JPP: reader's 2026 book argues that Khufu recut a Mafdet head in his own image.For: The head was recut from a larger animal head in the Old Kingdom, by Khufu or Khafre.
  7. Asked on this site
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