Valuable Sculptures Removed from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient artifacts and cultural objects have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, authorities report.
The burglary was noticed on Monday, when employees reportedly found that an entrance had been damaged from the inside.
The six taken statues were marble creations and dated back to the ancient Roman times, an authority stated to the media outlet.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had initiated an inquiry to identify the "circumstances surrounding the theft of a group of artifacts", and that measures had been implemented to enhance protection and observation methods.
The director of national security in the Damascus region, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the official media as declaring that authorities were probing the theft, which he said had affected several "historical artifacts and rare collectibles".
He added that museum protectors at the institution and other persons were being questioned.
The cultural institution, which was established in the early twentieth century, houses the primary archaeological collection in the country.
It contains historical records tracing back to the 14th Century BC from an ancient city, where indications of the most ancient writing system was uncovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD classical statues from the ancient city, one of the most important historical locations of the classical era; and a ancient Jewish temple that was built at Dura Europos.
The museum was compelled to shut in 2012, one year after the outbreak of the destructive conflict. Most of the holdings was removed and preserved at secure places to protect them.
It began limited operations in 2018 and resumed full operations in January 2025, four weeks after insurgents overthrew the Assad regime.
All six of nationally recognized sites were harmed or significantly impacted during the conflict.
The Islamic State group destroyed numerous ancient buildings and historical sites at the ancient city, stating that they were un-Islamic. International authorities censured the demolition as a atrocity.
Countless artefacts were also destroyed or looted from dig sites and museums.
