Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — A German tourist is facing legal action after climbing the Ancient Mayan Pyramid, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The unauthorized ascent to the iconic Kukulcán Pyramid in Chichén Itzá sparked outrage among locals, some of whom physically confronted the man.
The tourist was caught on video last Thursday (March 20) scaling the ancient temple in Yucatán. He was one of two separate individuals filmed attempting to climb the structure that day, as thousands of visitors gathered to witness the spring equinox at the historic site, also known as El Castillo.
“He ran past us. He was clearly in good physical shape,” one witness told local media, as security personnel attempted to intercept him. The 38-year-old German tourist reportedly tried to hide inside the pyramid but was quickly found by authorities and escorted out.
Members of Mexico’s National Guard and personnel from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) intervened to protect the man as a furious crowd jeered and called for him to be “sacrificed,” referencing the ancient Mayan tradition of human sacrifices once performed at the temple.
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The incident took place during a four-day festival at Chichén Itzá, where 8.000 – 9.000 visitors gathered to witness the “Descent of the Feathered Serpent”, a natural light phenomenon that creates the illusion of a serpent slithering down the pyramid’s steps during the equinox.
Despite the festivities, climbing the nearly 1,000-year-old pyramid has been strictly prohibited since 2006 to preserve its structure. The two tourists involved in the recent incident were arrested and could face fines under Article 55 of Mexico’s Federal Law on Monuments and Archaeological, Artistic, and Historic Zones, according to Mexico News Daily.
This is not the first time such an incident has occurred in the Ancient Mayan Pyramid. In 2022, a Polish tourist was caught on video running up the sacred temple’s steps. He was later detained, struck with a stick by an angry local, and fined 5,000 pesos before being released after a 12-hour jail stay, as reported by the Mexico Daily Post.
Authorities continue to emphasize the importance of respecting cultural heritage sites, warning that violators will face legal consequences.
(Raidi/Agung)
