one of the greatest civilizations of mankind The old Egypt While sculptures aren’t the first thing that comes to mind, it’s one of the historical works we see most often in exhibitions and museums. statues and busts. One of the most obvious common features of these statues and busts is the absence of noses.

The answer to the question of why these sculptures do not have noses is quite interesting. Normal Nasal Structures on time disappears because it is a small protrusion in the face. Due to various external factors, noses can wear out and fall off over time, so some sculptures on our Aegean coast are very valuable because they can somehow protect their limbs, especially the nose. However Ancient Egyptian Statues That’s not the case, they all blow their noses long, long ago by human hand lost.

Breaking the mouth of the ancient pharaohs

If you think it’s normal for a 4,000-year-old limestone statue to fall off, you’re right. Because many experts from Ancient Egypt, whose job it is to investigate these structures, had the same opinion. He is the Egyptian, Classical and Ancient Collections of the Near East of the Brooklyn Museum. Edward Bielberg That image didn’t change until he rolled up his sleeves to find out why statues don’t have noses.

Here is Bielberg’s attention and “the nose falls out because it sticks out” his theory shake there is a point, even in two-dimensional reliefs nose piece clearly damaged. This is the case with almost every relief, not one, two or five. So what was the reason for this?

In fact, we see examples of iconoclasm ie statues and reliefs of former political figures, as a result of iconoclasm. to vandalism was exposed. The purpose of the organized actions was to break the noses of the statues and reliefs of the ancient pharaohs. The reason was political.

It is difficult to be the head of religion and state.

To give a quick information about ancient Egypt, the person who bears the title of pharaoh is also: a chosen god would be. It was natural for them to want to see their statues and icons all over the country. In addition, the elite of that period kept these works in their homes. In this way Pharaoh he would have reminded his subjects of his strength.

According to the belief at that time, gods and people your images too he had a power. According to this belief, the essences of gods or persons could live in the statue dedicated to them. Therefore, statues played an important role in performing rituals and feeding and powering the gods. Iconoclastic actions aimed to disrupt this power.

It was meant to exhaust the power of the images

Iconoclastic acts were aimed at taking away the power of statues. When a pharaoh dies, the new one replaces the old ruler. by breaking the noses of their statues ruined their image. The noses were also broken. “to breathe” and prevented her from eating. In the same way the divine powers of works would disappear. With this logic, if the statues were to make an offering, their right hand would be broken, and if they offered anything, their left hand would be broken and this power would be destroyed as well.

acts of iconoclasm widespread and systematic† We can infer that from the texts from that period. In many written texts it is possible to see the reservations of the pharaohs and people about damaging their own images. Most pharaohs issued decrees declaring that they would inflict terrible punishments on those who damage their image.

Iconoclasm can also be sexist

According to Bielberg, the iconoclasm, which was carried out mainly for political reasons, also allowed ambitious rulers to write history the way they wanted. Also gender shape and density of iconoclasm could be effective. one of the queens of ancient egypt hatshepsut and Nefertitis their legacy had been largely erased from visual culture.

Among these examples, Hatshepsut was ruling with her son when her husband died. Son III: Thutmose, for the right to rule when his mother died of his own family tree and his son II. He wanted to put Amenhotep on the throne. So he started an organization to remove all statues of his mother.

According to Bielberg, iconoclasms were not perpetrated by a group of unwitting slaves. very talented is made by humans. Opening and removing certain sculptures was not an easy task. This work, which requires knowledge, could not be done lightly.

There are examples of iconoclasm in other cultures.

In fact, iconoclasm is a practice that continues in various forms even today. One of the first things the US did during the invasion of Iraq overthrowing Saddam statues or it was overthrown. Thus, a message was given to society by destroying the symbols of Saddam’s authority.

A statue of Aphrodite from the ancient Greek period example of iconoclasm It’s pretty obvious it’s broken. In addition to the broken pieces of the statue, the fact that a cross is engraved on the forehead gives a very clear idea of ​​who did this work.