Ancient Statues Taken from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Valuable artifacts and other artefacts have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, officials say.
The burglary was found on the start of the week, when museum workers apparently found that an entrance had been forced from the interior.
The half-dozen taken statues were made of marble and originated to the Roman era, one official informed the news agency.
Cultural heritage officials said it had opened an investigation to establish the "details surrounding the loss of a collection of artifacts", and that steps had been taken to enhance safeguarding and observation methods.
The chief of domestic security in the capital area, General Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the government press as stating that authorities were investigating the robbery, which he said had focused on several "archaeological statues and unique items".
He continued that museum protectors at the museum and other individuals were being interviewed.
The cultural institution, which was created in the early twentieth century, houses the significant cultural treasures in Syria.
It contains historical records originating to the Bronze Age from historical site, where indications of the oldest known writing system was found; Greco-Roman period classical statues from Palmyra, among the foremost historical locations of the ancient world; and a ancient synagogue that was built at Dura Europos.
The facility was forced to close in 2012, one year after the beginning of the internal strife. The majority of the artifacts was removed and kept at secure places to safeguard them.
It partially resumed in 2018 and returned to normal in January 2025, a month after opposition groups removed Syria's former leader.
All six of nationally recognized sites were harmed or significantly impacted during the conflict.
The Islamic State group destroyed numerous temples and historical sites at the ancient city, claiming that they were against their beliefs. International authorities denounced the destruction as a war crime.
Countless artefacts were also lost or taken from historical locations and cultural institutions.