An Egyptian tour guide was arrested for allegedly drawing a stick figure on the ancient Pyramid of Unas, which is over 4,000 years old. This incident happened while he was showing a group of tourists around the site. Footage shared on social media shows the guide leaning against a part of the pyramid’s casing, with tourists gathering nearby. He was seen trying to erase the drawing with his hand, but some marks remained.
According to Egypt’s Interior Ministry, the guide was charged with damaging an antiquity during his tour. Following the video’s release, an inspection was launched, leading an antiquities inspector to report the incident to the local police. Experts later removed the markings.
Authorities stated that the guide admitted to his actions during questioning. Legal steps have been initiated, and specialists have cleaned the pyramid since the incident. The Pyramid of Unas, located in the Saqqara area south of Giza, is notable for containing some of the earliest religious texts, known as Pyramid Texts, carved into its walls.
In recent years, Egypt has stepped up efforts to protect its archaeological sites, attracting millions of tourists each year. Under the country’s Antiquities Protection Law, acts like writing on or damaging these sites can result in fines and imprisonment, depending on the severity of the offense.
