Mexico ‘cancels’ statue of Greek god Poseidon after dispute with local deity

MEXICO CITY — The gods must be angry, or simply laughing at humanity’s arrogance.

Authorities in Mexico have imposed a “closure” order on a 10-foot (3-meter) tall aquatic statue of the Greek sea god Poseidon that was erected in May in the Gulf of Mexico near the city of Progreso, Yucatan. . .

Mexico’s environmental protection agency said late Thursday that the statue, which appears to show an angry, trident-wielding Poseidon “rising” from the sea just meters from the beach, lacked permits. In the few months it has been in operation, tourists had gathered to take photos with it as an eye-catching backdrop.

But it was symbolically “closed” on Thursday – and could be removed entirely – after a group of activist lawyers filed a legal complaint saying the statue of the Greek offended the beliefs of local indigenous Mayan groups who prefer their own local god of water, known as Chaac.

It has always been dangerous for humans to get involved in battles between deities. But this one seems to have to do with humanity today, combining “cancel culture,” social media storms, lawsuits, and the only truly fearsome and overwhelming force in the world today: Tourism powered by selfies on Instagram.

True to form, social media users in Mexico took to social media to boast about the decision, with at least a dozen posting slogans such as “Chaac 1, Poseidon 0.”

There are arguments on both sides.

“Poseidon is a Greek god foreign to our Mayan culture,” according to the legal complaint recently filed against the statue. “I have a human right to have my Mayan culture preserved.” The group of lawyers who filed the complaint did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The complaint also mentions the alleged lack of permits.

Technically, under Mexican law, any construction project that could alter the ecosystem must submit impact statements and obtain approval, although The government routinely violates its own rules. and often places the dreaded “closure” stickers on private projects long after the damage is done.

Typically a fine is imposed or studies must be submitted and then the project is allowed to continue. Only in exceptional cases do authorities order demolition or transfer.

The environmental protection office said the Poseidon statue had been erected by the municipal government of Progreso without environmental impact studies. The office said it would “continue the administrative process (regarding the statute) to determine appropriate actions.”

The city government was contacted for comment but had no immediate reaction.

The federal government, little known for his concern for the environmentseems to be responding more to pressure groups.

Critics of the statue cite a series of recent storms in and around the Gulf – Tropical Storm Alberto in June and Hurricane Beryl this week – as proof that Chaac, a fanged, hook-nosed deity who isn’t as Instagram-friendly as Poseidon, is angry.

Defenders of the statue, which strikingly shows Poseidon’s body rising powerfully from a relatively calm, open stretch of water near the beach, also have their arguments, although they may not hold up as well in court: It’s pretty and It’s good for business. .

“It is an attraction for our town and draws attention,” said Lizeth Alvarado Juárez, 28, a hotel employee in Progreso. “There are people who come from Mérida (the state capital) just to see Poseidon.”

Concerns about the threat to Mayan culture are overblown, he said, noting that “the culture is doing well.”

Battles between gods are not what they used to be. “It’s about memes,” Alvarado Juárez said.

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