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Mexico Ungodly Dispute
FILE - Tourists take pictures of Poseidon sculpture before the arrival of Hurricane Beryl in Progreso, Yucatan Mexico, July 4, 2024. Mexico’s environmental protection agency slapped a “closure” order on the aquatic statue erected in May, saying it lacked permits, and a legal complaint was made, saying the statue of the Greek god offended the beliefs of local Maya Indigenous groups who prefer their local god of water, known as Chaac. (AP Photo/Martin Zetina, File)

The gods must be angry: Mexico 'cancels' statue of Greek god Poseidon after dispute with local deity

Mexican authorities have slapped a “closure” order on a 10-foot tall aquatic statue of the Greek god of the sea Poseidon that was erected in May in the Gulf of Mexico just off the beach in the town of Progreso, Yucatan

By FABIOLA SÁNCHEZ
Published - Jul 12, 2024, 05:03 PM ET
Last Updated - Jul 12, 2024, 05:03 PM EDT

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The gods must be angry — or just laughing at the hubris of humanity.

Authorities in Mexico have slapped a “closure” order on a 10-foot-tall (3-meter) aquatic statue of the Greek god of the sea Poseidon that was erected in May in the Gulf of Mexico just off the town 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 a few meters from the beach, lacked permits. In the few months it has been up, tourists had gathered to take pictures of themselves with it as a striking background.

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

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