A tourist in Greece has been slammed after he was pictured desecrating an ancient Greek temple on the island of Naxos.
An image of the mystery man circulated on social media, with the shirtless tourist seen holding up a marble fragment outside the Temple of Apollo, also known as Portara.
The temple is more than 2500 years old.
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A post on Facebook by a local slammed the tourist, calling for immediate action to be taken.
“They have crossed the limits. Wake up before it is too late!” the post said.
“In another country, if this man wasn’t in prison, he would have been fined and deported from the country!!!!”
The man’s actions have been condemned by others outside of Greece, with an article in the New York Post branding the man as “Jerk-ules”.
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Naxos Mayor Dimitris Lianos was later quoted in local media saying a guard would be placed on the site to deter similar behaviour.
Dimitris Athanasoulis from the Ephorate of Antiquities of the Cyclades, a body overseeing the protection of monuments in Greece, said the action should be condemned despite no long-lasting damage was done.
“It is an insult to the monument itself,” he said.
“The area is generally not fenced, but there is signage for the public that they are entering an archaeological site and therefore they must show respect.”
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