Ancient Statues Removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus
Ancient artifacts and cultural objects have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in the capital, officials say.
The theft was found on the start of the week, when staff allegedly found that one of the museum's doors had been broken from the inside.
The half-dozen taken sculptures were crafted from marble and dated back to the Roman period, a source told the Associated Press.
Cultural heritage officials said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "details surrounding the loss of a collection of items", and that actions had been enacted to improve safeguarding and monitoring systems.
The director of domestic security in the capital area, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the state-run Sana news agency as stating that security forces were examining the incident, which he said had focused on several "archaeological statues and valuable objects".
He noted that museum protectors at the facility and additional people were being questioned.
The Damascus Museum, which was created in 1919, houses the significant archaeological collection in the country.
It features historical records originating to the 14th Century BC from historical site, where evidence of the earliest complete alphabet was uncovered; early centuries CE classical statues from the ancient city, one of the most important ancient sites of the classical era; and a ancient religious building that was established at an ancient location.
The facility was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, twelve months after the start of the destructive conflict. The majority of the artifacts was evacuated and kept at secure places to safeguard them.
It began limited operations in recent years and resumed full operations in January 2025, one month after insurgents removed Syria's former leader.
Every one of the country's cultural landmarks were affected or partly ruined during the conflict.
The militant faction blew up several ancient buildings and other structures at the ancient city, claiming that they were un-Islamic. The cultural organization censured the damage as a war crime.
Numerous artefacts were also damaged or stolen from dig sites and cultural institutions.
