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

Authorities in Mexico have slapped a “closure” order on a 10ft aquatic statue of the Greek god of the sea, Poseidon, which was erected in May in the Gulf of Mexico just off the town of Progreso, Yucatan.

Mexico’s environmental protection agency said the statue, which appears to show an angry trident-wielding Poseidon “rising” from the sea a few metres from the beach, lacked permits.

In the few months it was up, tourists had gathered to take pictures of themselves with it as a striking background.

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

The legal spat combines “cancel culture”, social media storms, lawsuits and Instagram selfie-fuelled tourism.

Mexico social media users inevitably used social media to crow about the decision, with at least a dozen posting slogans like “Chaac One, Poseidon Zero”.

There are arguments on both sides.

“Poseidon is a Greek god who is alien to our Maya culture,” according to the legal complaint filed recently against the statue. “I have a human right for my Maya culture to be preserved.”

The complaint also mentions the alleged lack of permits.

Technically, under Mexican law, any building project that could alter the ecosystem must file impact statements and get approval, though the government routinely violates its own rules and often slaps the little-feared “closure” stickers on private projects long after the damage is already done.

The office of environmental protection said the Poseidon statue had been erected by the Progreso municipal government without environmental impact studies.

The office said it would “continue the administrative process (regarding the statue) to determine the appropriate actions”.

But the federal government, little known for its concern for the environment, appears 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-nose deity who is not quite as Instagram-friendly as Poseidon, is angry.

Defenders of the statue, which strikingly shows Poseidon’s body rising mightily from a relatively, calm, open stretch of water near the beach, also have their arguments, though they might not hold up as well in court – it is pretty, and it is good for business.

“It’s an attraction for our town and it draws attention,” said Lizeth Alvarado Juarez, 28, an employee at a hotel in Progreso.

“There are people who come from Merida (the state capital) just to see the Poseidon.”

“It’s all about the memes,” Ms Alvarado Juarez said.