Silke Jasso
A Polish tourist who decided to stupidly climb a Mayan temple in Mexico was hit on the head with a stick by a bystander and was berated by several others after officers led him down and detained them. The ruckus comes after it is forbidden to climb the stairs of the Pyramid of Kukulcan, also known as El Castillo, which is located at the site of the ancient city Chichen Itza. It falls under the Tinum Municipal in the state of Yucatán.
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A video went viral on Twitter which showed the tourist being taken away by Mexican officials as he was seen beaten with a stick by an onlooker at the base of the pyramid. Another onlooker can be heard saying “are you stupid?” to the tourist.
The workers went on to control the shirtless man, who was detained for up to 12 hours. The Pyramid of Kukulkan is protected by local law enforcement and the Mexican National Institution of Anthropology and History, also known as INAH.
Polish Tourist Climbs on Mayan Temple
Otra vez un extranjero se subió a Chichén Itzá, y esta vez hasta palazos le tocaron. Este hombre procedente de Polonia ignoró los cordones, acá el video:
— Meredith G. 🛋️✨ (@MerGarza) January 29, 2023
pic.twitter.com/KfbVYPEDIQ
Fines for trespassers who attempt to climb the Heritage site can reportedly range from $1,800 to 9-000. The said tourist in question was fined $412 for the transgression, according to a spokesperson for INAH. “Tourists must respect the security measures of the INAH in the archaeological zone to preserve the cultural heritage of Mexico, take care of other visitors and enjoy that Mayan legacy,” the spokesperson stated.
Chichen Itza is home to several architectural and natural wonders, including the Temple of Warriors, The Great Ball Court, Sacred Entry and El Castillo. Since July 7, 2007, it has been considered one of the new seven wonders of the world. Penalties have been issued since 2008 for those who attempt to climb up the pyramid due to it being a prehistoric structure that needs conservation. According to the social media user who posted the video, the man had ignored all the signs that clearly stated that climbing steps are banned and that the tourists went on to ignore “rope cordons.”
According to the Chichen Itza website, the pyramid sits on a rectangular platform that measures 182 ft wide with a height of 78 ft. “Precision and intention are part of the essence of the building, each side of the pyramid has a large staircase, 91 steps per side and one more leading to the upper temple, giving 365 steps, one per day of the year.”
