Ancient Statues Removed from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Valuable sculptures and other artefacts have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, sources confirm.
The robbery was discovered on Monday, when employees reportedly found that a doorway had been damaged from the inside.
The multiple stolen sculptures 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 determine the "details surrounding the disappearance of a collection of artifacts", and that measures had been taken to improve safeguarding and monitoring systems.
The director of internal security in the capital area, General Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the state-run Sana news agency as declaring that law enforcement were examining the robbery, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and rare collectibles".
He continued that museum protectors at the museum and additional people were being questioned.
The Damascus Museum, which was established in 1919, holds the most important cultural treasures in Syria.
It features historical records dating back to the Bronze Age from an ancient city, where indications of the earliest linguistic system was found; early centuries CE Greco-Roman sculptures from Palmyra, among the foremost historical locations of the classical era; and a 3rd Century AD Jewish temple that was established at Dura Europos.
The facility was forced to close in the early 2010s, twelve months after the outbreak of the destructive conflict. A large portion of the holdings was transferred and kept at undisclosed sites to ensure their safety.
It partially resumed in recent years and returned to normal in early this year, one month after insurgents removed Syria's former leader.
All six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were harmed or partially destroyed during the conflict.
The Islamic State group demolished multiple ancient buildings and additional edifices at the archaeological site, asserting that they were against their beliefs. Unesco denounced the damage as a violation.
Countless artefacts were also destroyed or looted from archaeological sites and collections.
