Historic Artifacts Taken from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic sculptures and cultural objects have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, authorities report.
The robbery was noticed on Monday, when employees apparently found that an entrance had been broken from the interior.
The six taken pieces were crafted from marble and dated back to the Roman period, a source stated to the Associated Press.
Cultural heritage officials said it had opened an investigation to establish the "details surrounding the disappearance of a group of exhibits", and that steps had been implemented to strengthen security and surveillance.
The director of internal security in the Damascus region, Security Chief Atkeh, was quoted by the official media as saying that law enforcement were examining the theft, which he said had affected several "archaeological statues and rare collectibles".
He continued that guards at the institution and other individuals were being questioned.
The cultural institution, which was created in the early twentieth century, holds the most important archaeological collection in Syria.
It contains ancient inscribed tablets dating back to the ancient era from an ancient city, where proof of the most ancient complete alphabet was uncovered; Greco-Roman period classical statues from historical site, one of the most important ancient sites of the classical era; and a ancient synagogue that was built at Dura Europos.
The institution was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, a year after the beginning of the devastating civil war. The majority of the holdings was transferred and kept at secret locations to ensure their safety.
It reopened partially in recent years and resumed full operations in January 2025, one month after insurgents overthrew the Assad regime.
Each of the six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were affected or significantly impacted during the conflict.
The IS organization blew up multiple religious structures and additional edifices at the archaeological site, stating that they were idolatrous. International authorities censured the demolition as a war crime.
Countless cultural items were also damaged or looted from dig sites and collections.
