A video from late February showed a man leaning close to the stones at the base of the pyramid, drawing while explaining to a group of tourists. He then tried to erase it with his hand, but the marks remained visible in the footage.

The images quickly went viral on online platforms. Many users expressed outrage, calling the act "disrespectful to human heritage" and "unacceptable for a professional guide". Some demanded strict punishment to deter similar incidents, emphasizing that the preservation of ancient monuments should be a top priority.

On social media platform X, the Egyptian Ministry of Interior stated that the guide had "damaged an ancient artifact by drawing on the outer shell of one of the pyramids". Initially, reports only generally mentioned the Giza area. However, after the video gained popularity, an ancient artifact inspector submitted a report to the Saqqara Tourist Police Station for verification, leading to the identification of the suspect.

Portrait of the tour guide drawing on the pyramid. Photo: Egyptian Ministry of Interior

Officials stated that experts have processed and completely removed the markings. The man was arrested and admitted to the act during interrogation. "Legal measures have been taken", the Ministry of Interior announced.

According to local media, the incident occurred at the Unas pyramid within the Saqqara necropolis, south of Giza. The structure was built around the 24th century BC for Pharaoh Unas and is renowned for its "Pyramid Texts" – over 200 spells carved into its interior walls, considered the oldest known funerary texts.

The Unas pyramid is part of the Saqqara complex, which belongs to the ancient Memphis site – Egypt's first capital. This site is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage site, featuring an extensive system of tombs, temples, and large-scale pyramids.

Tuan Anh (Source: Foxnews)