A tourist recently thought it was a good idea to be filmed climbing the fragile steps of a Mayan pyramid – banned from the public since 2006 by the way – to pose on top, dance their way back and post a video on TikTok, to the apparent chagrin of everyone present.
The ancient Mayan pyramid is located at Chichén Itzá (and is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World located in southeast Mexico). Violating the Castillo de Kukulcán pyramid can result in fines of more than US$5,000 for violators, both because the structure is incredibly fragile given that it has been around for hundreds of years, and because there is a high risk of falling.
On the way back, reportedly and observed from this videos on YouTubethe tourist was welcomed by people who asked for prison to punish her for violating the historical monument. The structure, also known as El Castillo or Temple of Kukulcán, is located in a complex of Mayan ruins on Mexico’s Yucatán peninsula.
“There are human remains in there. It’s like dancing on top of a grave. It’s a big disrespect”, can be read on a comment posted on TikTok. “Imagine if someone climbed onto the altar in a cathedral and did a rough dance – this pyramid is sacred and that’s what they did” wrote another user.
The step pyramid was built by the Maya civilization between the 8th and 12th centuries AD to serve as a temple to Kukulcán, the Feathered Serpent god. The woman was taken away by security – after being attacked by mobs of tourists – but we don’t know for sure her fate, other than that she will pay a hefty fine ranging from $2,500 to over $5,000.
