They were broken centuries before Islam, or even Christianity. Breaking or disfiguring the nose is a common punishment trope throughout human history. Perhaps

They were broken centuries before Islam, or even Christianity. Breaking or disfiguring the nose is a common punishment trope throughout human history. Perhaps this is because the nose is one of the most exposed and accessible organs on the body if one seeks to damage someone mortally, and it is also core to many cultures' concept of beauty and power, so disfiguring it destroys the target in social dimensions also.