Historic Sculptures Removed from the National Museum in Damascus
Ancient artifacts and additional items have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, authorities report.
The robbery was found on the start of the week, when employees allegedly found that an entrance had been damaged from the interior.
The six missing pieces were marble creations and originated to the Roman era, one official informed the media outlet.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had opened an investigation to identify the "events surrounding the loss of a collection of items", and that steps had been taken to enhance safeguarding and monitoring systems.
The head of internal security in the Damascus region, Security Chief Atkeh, was referenced by the official media as saying that law enforcement were probing the incident, which he said had targeted several "historical artifacts and rare collectibles".
He added that guards at the museum and additional people were being interrogated.
The cultural institution, which was created in the early twentieth century, contains the most important cultural treasures in the country.
It contains clay cuneiform tablets originating to the 14th Century BC from historical site, where evidence of the earliest writing system was discovered; Greco-Roman period ancient art from historical site, among the foremost ancient sites of the ancient world; and a ancient synagogue that was built at an ancient location.
The museum was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, twelve months after the outbreak of the devastating civil war. The majority of the collection was removed and stored at secure places to protect them.
It began limited operations in 2018 and returned to normal in January 2025, one month after rebel forces deposed the Assad regime.
All six of the country's cultural landmarks were harmed or partially destroyed during the conflict.
The militant faction demolished several temples and other structures at Palmyra, stating that they were against their beliefs. Unesco censured the destruction as a war crime.
Numerous historical objects were also damaged or looted from historical locations and museums.
