- Mexican authorities in May “closed” a 10-foot-tall statue of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea, installed in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of the Yucatan town of Progreso after a legal complaint was filed.
- A group of activist lawyers filed a legal complaint, claiming that the statue of the Greek god violates the beliefs of a local indigenous Maya group who worship Chaac, a local water god.
- The statue and the controversy surrounding it have become a hot topic on social media.
The gods must be angry – or maybe they’re just laughing at mankind’s arrogance.
Mexican authorities have issued a “closure” order to a 10-foot-tall aquatic statue of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea, that was installed in the Gulf of Mexico in May off the coast of the Yucatan peninsula town of Progreso.
Mexico’s Environmental Protection Agency said late Thursday that the statue, which appears to depict an angry Poseidon brandishing a trident and “rising” out of the sea a few meters from the shore, did not have a permit. In the months since it was installed, tourists had flocked to have their photos taken with the imposing figure as a backdrop.
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But the statue was symbolically “closed” on Thursday and could be removed altogether after a group of activist lawyers filed a lawsuit alleging that the statue of the Greek god desecrates the beliefs of a local indigenous Maya group, who favour a local water god known as Chaac.
It’s always been dangerous for humans to get caught up in a battle between gods, but this time the fight seems to be about modern humanity, combining cancel culture, social media storms, lawsuits, and a truly terrifying and overwhelming force in today’s world: Instagram selfie-fueled tourism.
As expected, Mexican social media users celebrated the decision on social media, with at least a dozen people posting slogans like “Chuck 1, Poseidon 0.”
A tourist takes a photo of the Poseidon sculpture before Hurricane Beryl arrives in Progreso, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico on July 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Zetina, File)
There are arguments on both sides.
“Poseidon is a Greek god and is foreign to our Mayan culture,” states a recent lawsuit filed against the statue. “I have a human right to have my Mayan culture preserved.” Lawyers who filed the lawsuit did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The complaint also cites a lack of permits.
Strictly speaking, Mexican law requires that any building project that could alter the ecosystem must submit an impact report and get approval, but the government routinely violates its own rules, often slapping the little-feared “closed” sticker on private projects long after the damage has already been done.
The Department of Environmental Protection said the statue was built by the Progreso city government without conducting an environmental impact study. It said it would “continue the administrative process (regarding the statue) and determine the appropriate measures.”
But the federal government, not known for its concern for environmental issues, appears to be cautious of pressure groups’ demands.
Critics of the statue cite a string of recent storms in and around the Gulf of Mexico, including Tropical Storm Alberto in June and Hurricane Beryl this week, as evidence that Chaku, a fanged, hook-nosed god who is less Instagram-friendly than Poseidon, is angry.
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Defenders of the imposing statue, whose powerful body rises from the relatively calm, open waters near the shore, also argue that, while that might not hold up in court, the statue is pretty and good for business.
“It’s a speciality of our town, and it’s a big draw,” said Lizeth Alvarado Juarez, 28, a hotel worker in Progreso. “Some people come from Mérida just to see Poseidon.”
The battle of the gods has changed dramatically since ancient times. “It’s all meme-driven,” Alvarado Juarez says.
