A tour guide has been arrested after being caught on camera defacing a 4,000-year-old pyramid with chalk, causing outrage.
The Egyptian guide had made a series of drawings on a block on pyramids at the ancient site of Saqqara, near Cairo.
Footage shows the guide being confronted moments after scribbling on the monument.
The video was shared online on February 22nd, gaining a whopping 492,000 views and 2,700 likes.
The video caption reads: 'Today at Saqqara, near the Pyramid of Unas, I came across a man – a tour guide for Russian tourists – drawing on the pyramid with chalk.
'When I politely told him that what he was doing was wrong, he asked me, "Are you serious?" Honestly, I didn't know how to respond.'
The Egyptian Ministry of Interior launched an investigation after the chalk-wielding guide was referred to authorities.
A tour guide has fallen foul of strict Egyptian heritage laws after drawing on a pyramid with chalk while taking tourists around the pyramids at Saqqara, close to Cairo
He was promptly arrested and confessed during questioning to making the marks - and has since been temporarily suspended from work.
His chalk illustrations were removed by the Saqqara Antiquities Department, as reported by NeedToKnow.
The guide apologised, saying it was his first day back at work in four years and that overexcitement led him to make an 'unforgivable mistake'.
He lives in the Boulaq Al Dakrour area and is now facing legal proceedings.
Local media report he could face a year or more in prison, plus a fine of up to 500,000 EGP (£7,698), if convicted of damaging an antiquity.
The unnamed guide (pictured top) has since apologised for the chalk illustrations that caused the ensuing outrage (pictured bottom)
Archaeology experts warned that chemicals in chalk can react with limestone and granite, potentially causing surface erosion.
The Tour Guides' Syndicate stressed that its members take great care in preserving monuments and described the incident as an isolated mistake.
One viewer, Ismail, said: 'What he's doing is 100 per cent wrong, but for clarification, that rock is not ancient…
'I've been many times. It's cement/plaster. Most ancient Egyptian monuments have renovated bases to preserve the structure.'
Others were far more shocked at his behaviour. One commented on the post: 'Thankfully he stopped because of you. God knows what trouble he caused before.'
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