A 10-foot-tall statue of the Greek god Poseidon, erected in May in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Progreso, Yucatan, has been ordered closed by Mexican authorities due to a lack of permits.
The statue, depicting Poseidon wielding a trident and rising from the sea, had become a popular tourist attraction, but a legal complaint filed by a group of activist lawyers argued that it offended the beliefs of local Maya Indigenous groups who revere Chaac, their own god of water.
The complaint cites the statue’s lack of permits and its clash with Maya cultural beliefs, stating that “Poseidon is alien to our Maya culture” and that the complainant has a right to the preservation of their culture.
Mexico’s environmental protection agency, while acknowledging the statue’s lack of environmental impact studies, has also faced pressure from groups who believe recent storms are a sign of Chaac’s anger over the presence of the Greek god.
Defenders of the statue argue that it is a beautiful attraction that brings tourism and economic benefits to the town of Progreso.
Social media users have embraced the controversy, with many celebrating the removal of the Poseidon statue with slogans like “Chaac One, Poseidon Zero.”