Ancient Sculptures Removed from the National Museum in Damascus
Historic artifacts and additional items have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, authorities report.
The theft was noticed on Monday, when staff allegedly found that one of the museum's doors had been damaged from the interior.
The multiple stolen pieces were crafted from marble and traced back to the ancient Roman times, a source told the media outlet.
Cultural heritage officials said it had initiated an inquiry to identify the "details surrounding the disappearance of a number of items", and that actions had been taken to enhance safeguarding and observation methods.
The chief of national security in Damascus province, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the government press as declaring that authorities were investigating the theft, which he said had targeted several "historical artifacts and rare collectibles".
He continued that museum protectors at the museum and other persons were being interrogated.
The Damascus Museum, which was founded in 1919, contains the significant cultural treasures in the country.
It features clay cuneiform tablets dating back to the ancient era from historical site, where proof of the earliest writing system was uncovered; Greco-Roman period classical statues from historical site, a significant historical locations of the historical period; and a 3rd Century AD religious building that was established at Dura Europos.
The museum was forced to close in the early 2010s, twelve months after the beginning of the devastating civil war. A large portion of the artifacts was transferred and preserved at secure places to protect them.
It began limited operations in 2018 and completely reopened in January 2025, four weeks after insurgents overthrew Syria's former leader.
Every one of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were damaged or significantly impacted during the conflict.
The Islamic State group destroyed numerous temples and additional edifices at Palmyra, asserting that they were un-Islamic. The cultural organization condemned the damage as a violation.
Countless historical objects were also damaged or stolen from archaeological sites and cultural institutions.
