# Was the head recarved from an earlier head? · Great Sphinx of Giza > 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… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/great-sphinx/questions/QST0CTWSDQ421NG/was-the-head-recarved-from-an-earlier-head Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:57:33+00:00 --- **0** # Was the head recarved from an earlier head? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·Part of [What did the Sphinx originally represent?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/great-sphinx/questions/QST0CTWSDFA7K8D/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 layout** Ahead 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]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CTWRSPG31HX/reconstructing-the-sphinx)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CTWRWM84SS4/the-great-sphinx-robert-schochs-statement-of-the-redating). ## Answers 4 [**The head is as first carved; its size reflects the block of Member III rock available and a deliberate layout.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/great-sphinx/answers/ANS0CTWSXJY0SVW/the-head-is-as-first-carved-its-size-reflects-the-block-of) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 1 for Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/great-sphinx/answers/ANS0CTWSY2J0V2B/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**The head was recut from a larger animal head in the Old Kingdom, by Khufu or Khafre.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/great-sphinx/answers/ANS0CTWSWKP7QFT/the-head-was-recut-from-a-larger-animal-head-in-the-old) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for Still possible [**The head was recut in the Middle Kingdom from an earlier head.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/great-sphinx/answers/ANS0CTWSX3A31FT/the-head-was-recut-in-the-middle-kingdom-from-an-earlier) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 for Disputed ## History 1. 1992[Lehner puts forward: the head is as first carved; its size reflects the block of Member III rock available and a deliberate layout.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CTWRSPG31HX/reconstructing-the-sphinx) 1. 1992[Lehner: lehner's survey records the head carved from the harder Member III beds, a limited block, with the nemes and…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CTWRSPG31HX/reconstructing-the-sphinx)For: The head is as first carved; its size reflects the block of Member III rock available and a deliberate layout. 1. 2009[Temple & Temple puts forward: the head was recut in the Middle Kingdom from an earlier head.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CTWRYAY4SX6/the-sphinx-mystery-the-forgotten-origins-of-the-sanctuary-of) 1. 2009[Temple & Temple: temple identifies the face as Amenemhat II's on stylistic grounds.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CTWRYAY4SX6/the-sphinx-mystery-the-forgotten-origins-of-the-sanctuary-of)For: The head was recut in the Middle Kingdom from an earlier head. 1. 2026[Reader puts forward: the head was recut from a larger animal head in the Old Kingdom, by Khufu or Khafre.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CTWRXBP1TMP/rewriting-the-history-of-the-great-sphinx) 1. 2026[JPP: reader's 2026 book argues that Khufu recut a Mafdet head in his own image.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CTWS01M05VX/rewriting-the-history-of-the-great-sphinx-book-review)For: The head was recut from a larger animal head in the Old Kingdom, by Khufu or Khafre. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/great-sphinx/questions/QST0CTWSDQ421NG/was-the-head-recarved-from-an-earlier-head%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/great-sphinx/questions/QST0CTWSDQ421NG/was-the-head-recarved-from-an-earlier-head%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/great-sphinx/questions/QST0CTWSDQ421NG/was-the-head-recarved-from-an-earlier-head%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/great-sphinx/questions/QST0CTWSDQ421NG/was-the-head-recarved-from-an-earlier-head%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/great-sphinx/questions/QST0CTWSDQ421NG/was-the-head-recarved-from-an-earlier-head%23add-source) Where it fits Great Sphinx of Giza [**What did the Sphinx originally represent?** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/great-sphinx/questions/QST0CTWSDFA7K8D/what-did-the-sphinx-originally-represent)Key question · most likely it was made as the king, with a human head on a lion's body, as part of his pyramid complex; it was… **Was the head recarved from an earlier head?** You're here · the head is as first carved; its size reflects the block of Member III rock available and a deliberate layout [ Ask a question under this one ]