Ancient Artifacts Removed from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic artifacts and additional items have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, officials say.
The robbery was discovered on Monday, when staff reportedly found that a doorway had been forced from the interior.
The half-dozen stolen sculptures were crafted from marble and dated back to the Roman era, a source informed the news agency.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "circumstances surrounding the theft of a group of exhibits", and that actions had been implemented to enhance security and monitoring systems.
The head of domestic security in the capital area, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the government press as stating that authorities were investigating the theft, which he said had targeted several "archaeological statues and valuable objects".
He continued that museum protectors at the facility and additional people were being interrogated.
The National Museum, which was created in 1919, houses the primary cultural treasures in Syria.
It features clay cuneiform tablets originating to the Bronze Age from historical site, where proof of the most ancient complete alphabet was found; early centuries CE Greco-Roman sculptures from the ancient city, among the foremost cultural centres of the classical era; and a third century religious building that was established at Dura Europos.
The facility was compelled to shut in 2012, one year after the beginning of the devastating civil war. A large portion of the artifacts was removed and kept at secure places to safeguard them.
It partially resumed in recent years and returned to normal in early this year, a month after insurgents deposed Syria's former leader.
Every one of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were affected or partly ruined during the civil war.
The militant faction demolished several temples and historical sites at the archaeological site, stating that they were idolatrous. International authorities condemned the demolition as a war crime.
Countless cultural items were also lost or looted from historical locations and collections.
