According to historical accounts, Mohammed Sa'im al-Dahr, a Sufi Muslim, is credited with vandalizing the Sphinx in 1378 A.D.
Details of the Vandalism
Medieval Arab scholars like Makrizi and Rashidi documented that Mohammed Sa'im al-Dahr, described as a "fanatical sufi," damaged the face of the Great Sphinx of Giza. Specifically, he is said to have damaged the nose and ears of the ancient monument.
Motivations
While the precise motivations of Mohammed Sa'im al-Dahr are not definitively known, it's generally attributed to religious iconoclasm - the destruction of images or symbols for religious or political reasons. The Sphinx, being a pre-Islamic monument, may have been viewed as an object of idolatry or a symbol of a previous, superseded belief system by al-Dahr.
Historical Context
It's important to note that attributing the destruction solely to Mohammed Sa'im al-Dahr is a simplification. The Sphinx has suffered erosion and damage over centuries due to various factors, including wind, sand, and previous acts of vandalism. However, al-Dahr's documented actions are a significant event in the Sphinx's history of degradation.
