I'd always heard noses and penises (being extrusions) were prone to incidental breakage, so I had to look this one up.

Deliberate breakage of the nose seems to be an Egyptian thing.

Noses were obscene and scandalous?

No, but knocking the nose off was a sign of disrespect.

"you think this guy/God was so great you made a stature of him? Here's what I think <chop>"