A fragment of the beard of the Great Sphinx is in the British Museum - see link below.
Khufu
It did but was most likely eroded off
River Nile
Yes the great Sphinx of Giza had a beard but it fell off and is now kept in a museum
It has been eroded by weather and it has also lost main features such as its nose, beard etc
Singeing the King of Spain's Beard happened in 1587-07.
Originally they were cased in white limestone most of which has been removed over the years.
People care about the Sphinx because it was legendary. The Sphinx was said to have wings in was described as an large species/creature. The legend is famously know through out Egypt and they even made a statchu of the Sphinx. It's said to be an mystery as to what happened to it.
Oedipus knew and was made King of Thebes.
They were preoccupied with dealing with the sphinx
the people said they would pray for protection
The original head of the Great Sphinx is significant because it likely depicted a pharaoh, possibly Khafre. This contributes to the mystery and history of the monument as it suggests a connection to ancient Egyptian rulers and their beliefs in the afterlife. The missing nose and beard add to the enigma surrounding the Sphinx, sparking debates and theories about its purpose and symbolism.