In a surprising turn of events, Mexican authorities have issued a "closure" order for a 10-foot-tall aquatic statue of the Greek god of the sea, Poseidon. Erected in May just off the beach in the town of Progreso, Yucatan, the statue has become a popular tourist attraction in a span of a few months. However, the statue lacked the necessary permits, leading to its symbolic closure on Thursday.

The environmental protection agency of Mexico stated that the Poseidon statue violated regulations as it did not have the required permits. This decision comes after a group of activist lawyers filed a legal complaint, stating that the statue offended the beliefs of local Maya Indigenous groups who venerate their own god of water known as Chaac. The legal complaint argued for the preservation of Maya culture and requested the removal of the foreign deity statue.

Carlos Morales from the Indigenous Strategic Litigation group, who filed the complaint, expressed his desire for the removal of the Poseidon statue. Morales emphasized that the statue's presence on the beach of Progreso was against Maya culture and highlighted the lack of environmental permits.

Under Mexican law, any construction project that could impact the ecosystem must obtain approval and file impact statements. However, the government often overlooks these regulations and typically applies closure stickers on private projects long after any damage has occurred. This case appears to be an exception, with the government responding to pressure groups, as Morales pointed out.

The Office of Environmental Protection acknowledged that the statue was erected without the necessary environmental impact studies. They have committed to continuing the administrative process concerning the Poseidon statue to determine appropriate action. The town government is yet to provide a comment on the matter.

Supporters of the Poseidon statue argue that it serves as an attraction for the town and helps boost tourism. Lizeth Alvarado Juárez, an employee at a hotel in Progreso, stated that people even travel from the state capital, Merida, to see the impressive statue. However, critics of the statue point to recent storms in the Gulf, citing them as evidence that Chaac, the local deity, is displeased.

It remains to be seen how this conflict between different beliefs and the authorities will be resolved. While the closure of the Poseidon statue is largely symbolic, the controversy highlights the clash between cultural preservation, environmental regulations, and the desire to attract tourism.