A tour guide has been arrested in Egypt after a video showed him drawing on the exterior stones of the Pyramid of Unas while explaining details to tourists. The incident took place at the Saqqara necropolis, south of Cairo, and prompted an investigation by Egypt’s interior ministry. Egypt Today reported the development.The Pyramid of Unas is one of Egypt’s most historic monuments. Its history dates back to the Old Kingdom, approximately 4,400 to 4,500 years ago. It is widely considered to be the earliest pyramid to contain Pyramid Texts and is part of the Saqqara site on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
what happened at the scene
According to a statement from the ministry, the Saqqara Tourist Police Department received a report from the local antiquities inspector. Inspectors said the guide painted marks on the stones of the pyramid’s casing while leading a group of tourists. Authorities called the move a distortion of the archaeological monument.The markers were later removed by authorities.A video circulating on social media shows the tour guide using chalk to draw lines and simple sketches of instructions directly on the stones during the explanation. The video was filmed by an Egyptian tourist known as Mahmoud Etman on social media. In the video, the tourist initially calmly confronts the tour guide and tells him what he’s doing is wrong. The tour guide responded defensively and asked the photographer. He insisted that the stones he marked were ones added during the restoration and not the original ancient stones.Exchanges became tense and voices rose.The Interior Ministry confirmed that the accused had been arrested. During interrogation, he admitted his actions. Legal proceedings have been initiated.According to Article 45 of the 1983 Antiquities Act, anyone who writes or inscribes on antiquities shall be sentenced to imprisonment for not less than one year. The law also provides for fines of up to 500,000 Egyptian pounds.Multiple Arab media sources and social media posts described the guide as a Russian tour guide. Some reports refer to him as Rami Aamir. It was unclear whether he was a foreign tour guide or one with an Egyptian license leading Russian-speaking groups. During the filmed confrontation, he reportedly claimed to be a doctor.The case attracted public attention due to the cultural importance of the Pyramids of Unas and the strict legal protections of Egypt’s archaeological heritage. Authorities have not released further details about the legal proceedings.The video sparked widespread criticism online. Many social media users expressed anger at what they said was a disrespect for Egypt’s cultural heritage. Some users praised the tourist who filmed the incident and confronted the tour guide. Others called for tighter monitoring of guided tours of archaeological sites and stronger enforcement of heritage protection laws.The case has reignited debate over conservation standards in major tourist destinations and the responsibilities of licensed tour guides when working with sites of historic significance. Authorities have not released further details about the ongoing legal proceedings.Dating back to the 24th century BC, the Pyramid of Unas stands in Saqqara and is the last royal pyramid of Egypt’s Fifth Dynasty. It was built for the pharaoh Unas who ruled from 2375 to 2345 BC and is famous for the pyramid texts inscribed on its walls. These incantations, hymns and prayers are believed to be the oldest surviving religious texts and later influenced funerary works such as the Book of the Dead. The complex was originally named “The Land of Beautiful Unas” and included the mortuary temple, causeway and valley temple.
