# Why do black people think Napoleon shot off the Sphinx's nose? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 8, 2004, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-black-people-think-napoleon-shot-off-the-sphinxs-nose/223448 "2004-01-08T17:05:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2012, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-black-people-think-napoleon-shot-off-the-sphinxs-nose/223448/81 "2012-11-12T17:51:37Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > He was an anchor baby. > > Well, did _you_ ever hear of Mary getting deported? She and Joseph “self-deported” before the Massacre of the Innocents. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-black-people-think-napoleon-shot-off-the-sphinxs-nose/223448/82 "2012-11-13T08:07:58Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > So, you’re saying it MOSES who attacked the Sphynx’s nose?? It was probably “too Jewish.” ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-black-people-think-napoleon-shot-off-the-sphinxs-nose/223448/83 "2012-11-13T09:03:34Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > He was an anchor baby. > > Well, did _you_ ever hear of Mary getting deported? I heard Jesus was born in a car during the trip. The story I got was something about a Pinto, a niño, and Santa Maria. And I think they were driving to Ohio. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-black-people-think-napoleon-shot-off-the-sphinxs-nose/223448/84 "2012-11-13T09:38:27Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > As for Afrocentrism, you will hear very pointed assertions that Moses was black. Naturally. How many white people do you know who are named Moses? Q.E.D. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-black-people-think-napoleon-shot-off-the-sphinxs-nose/223448/85 "2012-11-13T12:50:09Z")
Ahh – found some more of them. I posted about this six years ago (05-08-2006) **Aladdin** (Disney movie) **Prince of Egypt** (Spielberg cartoon) **Bill and Ted** (TV cartoon) In addition, **Eureka** claimed it was in a Smurfs coloring book. And **Winston Bongo** claimed it was shown in a Fafr Side cartoon. ---
**Author:** ![Reloy3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c68b51/32.png) [@Reloy3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reloy3)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-black-people-think-napoleon-shot-off-the-sphinxs-nose/223448/86 "2012-11-13T14:38:24Z")
Interestingly, from the news this morning, the rest of the sphinx might not be out of the woods, yet. [http://www.upi.com/Top\_News/World-News/2012/11/12/Salafist-leader-wants-Pyramids-destroyed/UPI-30571352719234/](http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2012/11/12/Salafist-leader-wants-Pyramids-destroyed/UPI-30571352719234/) ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2012, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-black-people-think-napoleon-shot-off-the-sphinxs-nose/223448/87 "2012-11-13T16:15:08Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I know it’s aombie thread, but I can’t resist posting. > > I’d heard the story about Napoleon’s soldiers (not Napoleon) shooting off the Sphinx’ nose, but I didn’t realize anyone took it seriously. > > The loss of the nose has become a trope in cartoons and comics – everyone is responsible for the loss of the nose > > Obelix is responsible in _Asterix and Cleopatra_ > > Mark Twain is responsible in _The Adventures of Mark Twain_ > > I’ve seen many other examples, which I can’t recall now. But the Great Sphinx losing its nose gets attributed to lots of cartoon characters. Yeah, this legend has been around far, far longer than Farrakhan and Afrocentrism. White people told this tale plenty. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-black-people-think-napoleon-shot-off-the-sphinxs-nose/223448.md?page=4)