Yucatan has “canceled” a statue of Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea, after a legal complaint filed by activist lawyers claiming it offended the beliefs of local Maya Indigenous groups who prefer their own god of water, Chaac.
The statue was erected in May in Progreso, Yucatan, and lacked permits. Critics argue that the removal is not justified as it brings revenue to the town through tourism.
However, authorities claim that the statue was built without environmental impact studies, violating Mexican law.
Critics of the statue cite a series of recent storms in and around the Gulf — Tropical Storm Alberto and Hurricane Beryl — as proof that Chaac, a fanged, hook-nose deity who isn’t 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’s pretty, and it’s good for business.
“It’s an attraction for our town and it draws attention,” said Lizeth Alvarado Juárez, 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 always been dangerous for humans to get involved in battles between deities. But this one appears to be about present-day humanity, combining “cancel culture,” social media storms, lawsuits and the one truly fearsome, overpowering force in today’s world: Instagram selfie-fueled tourism.
Battles between the gods just aren’t what they used to be. “It’s all about the memes,” Alvarado Juárez said.
Source: Source: Ncronoline
