Bold claim: A beloved ancient treasure was almost disfigured by a careless moment, sparking a national outcry and a serious legal response. And this is where the story gets more complex than it seems...
A tour guide in Egypt has been arrested after allegedly drawing on the 4,000-year-old Pyramid of Unas in Saqqara. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities reported via a Monday statement that the Saqqara Tourist Police Station received a complaint from a local antiquities inspector who said the guide altered a historic monument. Egyptian news outlet Egypt Today also covered the incident, noting that the inspector said the man used chalk to draw on the pyramid’s outer stones while guiding a group.
Video footage circulating online shows the guide sketching what looked like a diagram in chalk while addressing the tourists. When a bystander filming the scene confronted him, the guide allegedly asked, “Are you sane?”
The act was widely condemned as vandalism of a precious ancient site. Authorities later confirmed that specialists removed the chalk markings.
The individual, identified as Al-Amir, was taken into custody and, during questioning, admitted to drawing on the structure. Legal proceedings have been initiated.
Subsequently, the guide issued a video apology, calling the act a “grave mistake” and claiming it was unintentional. The Tourist Guides Syndicate suspended him pending review.
Under Article 45 of Egypt’s Antiquities Protection Law from 1983, anyone found guilty of writing on or defacing an antiquity faces a minimum prison term of one year and fines that can reach up to 500,000 Egyptian pounds.
About the Pyramid of Unas
The Pyramid of Unas is a smooth-sided pyramid at Saqqara built for Pharaoh Unas, the ninth and last ruler of Egypt’s Fifth Dynasty (circa 2350 BCE). Although smaller than many other pyramids, it is historically significant for housing the Pyramid Texts—the earliest known collection of spells and prayers intended to guide the king’s journey to the afterlife.
Inside, the Pyramid Texts offer a rich glimpse into ancient Egyptian religious beliefs and burial practices. Discovered in 1881, the structure has undergone several excavations. It originally rose about 43 meters tall with a base roughly 58 meters wide. The walls are adorned with fine white alabaster and blue-painted hieroglyphs, while the roof is decorated with a starry sky motif featuring gold five-pointed stars on a deep blue background.
Today, the Pyramid of Unas is typically accessible to visitors and is commonly included on standard Saqqara entry itineraries.
