Historic Statues Taken from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic statues and other artefacts have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, officials say.
The burglary was found on the start of the week, when museum workers allegedly found that an entrance had been broken from the inside.
The multiple taken pieces were crafted from marble and originated to the ancient Roman times, one official informed the media outlet.
Cultural heritage officials said it had launched a probe to identify the "details surrounding the disappearance of a collection of artifacts", and that actions had been implemented to enhance protection and monitoring systems.
The head of internal security in the capital area, Security Chief Atkeh, was quoted by the official media as declaring that security forces were probing the theft, which he said had focused on several "ancient sculptures and rare collectibles".
He added that museum protectors at the facility and additional people were being questioned.
The National Museum, which was established in 1919, holds the significant archaeological collection in Syria.
It contains historical records originating to the ancient era from Ugarit, where evidence of the earliest writing system was found; Greco-Roman period classical statues from the ancient city, among the foremost ancient sites of the classical era; and a third century religious building that was constructed at Dura Europos.
The facility was had to cease operations in 2012, a year after the beginning of the devastating civil war. The majority of the collection was evacuated and kept at secure places to ensure their safety.
It reopened partially in 2018 and completely reopened in January 2025, one month after opposition groups removed the Assad regime.
Every one of the country's cultural landmarks were harmed or partly ruined during the civil war.
The militant faction blew up multiple temples and additional edifices at the ancient city, claiming that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization denounced the demolition as a war crime.
Numerous artefacts were also destroyed or stolen from archaeological sites and cultural institutions.
