Mayan Temple Irreparably Damaged by Doomsday Partiers

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the damage inflicted on an ancient Mayan temple in Guatemala by party-goers celebrating the supposed "end of the world." Participants express various reactions to the incident, reflecting on the significance of cultural heritage and the implications of such actions.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express outrage over the damage to the temple, emphasizing its status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Others display indifference towards the incident, questioning the relevance of the past and suggesting that the destruction does not significantly impact the present.
  • A few participants reference historical figures and quotes to frame the discussion, indicating a philosophical stance on the importance of remembering history.
  • One participant draws a parallel to other instances of cultural heritage damage, such as the destruction of artifacts in Cairo, to highlight a broader issue of disrespect towards ancient sites.
  • There are comments suggesting that the damage could have been worse, referencing other historical sites that have faced destruction.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants exhibit a mix of agreement and disagreement. While some express strong feelings of disapproval regarding the damage, others remain indifferent or dismissive, leading to a lack of consensus on the significance of the event.

Contextual Notes

Participants' views vary widely, with some focusing on the philosophical implications of historical preservation while others prioritize contemporary relevance. The discussion reflects differing values regarding cultural heritage and its protection.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in cultural heritage, historical preservation, and the impact of modern actions on ancient sites may find this discussion relevant.

Evo
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This is outrageous.

An ancient stone temple in Guatemala suffered significant damage from "end of the word" party goers earlier this month.

Tikal, where the temple is located, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and, according to AFP, "the largest archaeological site and urban center of the Mayan civilization."

"Sadly, many tourists climbed Temple II and caused damage," said Osvaldo Gomez, a technical adviser at the site told AFP. It is forbidden to climb the temples. The nature of the damage was not described, but Gomez said it's "irreparable."

http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blog...world-parties-173634842--abc-news-travel.html
 
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That's terrible. Damn idiots...
 
For some reason, I don't care. I am not really interested in the past.
 
tahayassen said:
For some reason, I don't care. I am not really interested in the past.

Blasphemer! Awaken Osiris!
 
tahayassen said:
For some reason, I don't care. I am not really interested in the past.

It happened in the present to buildings that exist right now. And I could argue that the destruction of anything was a destruction of the past.
 
tahayassen said:
For some reason, I don't care. I am not really interested in the past.

Heh. Too bad, you'll be stuck in the refresher course :smile:

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." -- George Santayana
 
tahayassen said:
For some reason, I don't care. I am not really interested in the past.

Without the past, there wouldn't be a present. :)
 
tahayassen said:
For some reason, I don't care. I am not really interested in the past.

You got five quotes in a row for this statement, it must be controversial.
 
An ancient stone temple in Guatemala suffered significant damage from "end of the word" party goers earlier this month.

so? :confused: it's not exactly the end of the world, is it? :wink:

(in the beginning was the word o:))​
 
  • #10
Elementary. Jose Arguelas (he came up with the 2012 thing) confused the end of the world with the destruction of the temple. Could happen to anybody. So his prediction was dead on.

Having seen a few ancient temples, often they are dirt enclosed by brick. If the brick is damaged the thing can avalanche and cost too much to repair.
 
  • #11
Morons. Kill 'em all, I say.
 
  • #12
Pythagorean said:
You got five quotes in a row for this statement, it must be controversial.

It's always fun to gauge how controversial a post can be by looking at the number of people who took the time to reply to some guy on the internet. Relevant XKCD: http://xkcd.com/386/
 
  • #13
Its sad. Just because I am not a doomsday believer, I don't have the privilege to damage a Mayan temple.
 
  • #14
tiny-tim said:
so? :confused: it's not exactly the end of the world, is it? :wink:

(in the beginning was the word o:))​


Word! :biggrin:


I know my reply's late, but why let that stand in the way of a nice riposte?
 
  • #15
Priceless Egyptian artefacts including mummies were damaged in the Cairo museum during riots as well. Always sad to see people so disrespectful of ancient heritage, especially wen it's from something stupid like a party.
 
  • #16
There's damage and then there's damage. http://news.yahoo.com/builders-bulldoze-big-mayan-pyramid-belize-225012836.html. It's incredible what some people will do.
 
  • #17
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  • #18
ImATrackMan said:
At least it wasn't another case of a peruvian developer destroying the Nazca Lines...

Shame, too. They were on my bucket list.

What??! I've always wanted to see them, too.
 

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