Ancient Sculptures Stolen from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient artifacts and cultural objects have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in the capital, officials say.
The robbery was found on Monday, when museum workers reportedly found that a doorway had been broken from the interior.
The six taken pieces were marble creations and traced back to the ancient Roman times, one official informed the news agency.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had opened an investigation to identify the "details surrounding the disappearance of a number of exhibits", and that steps had been taken to enhance security and observation methods.
The director of domestic security in the Damascus region, General Osama Atkeh, was cited by the government press as saying that authorities were examining the theft, which he said had focused on several "archaeological statues and unique items".
He continued that museum protectors at the facility and other individuals were being questioned.
The National Museum, which was created in 1919, contains the significant historical artifacts in Syria.
It includes historical records dating back to the Bronze Age from Ugarit, where evidence of the most ancient writing system was uncovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD ancient art from the ancient city, one of the most important historical locations of the classical era; and a 3rd Century AD Jewish temple that was constructed at an ancient location.
The institution was had to cease operations in 2012, a year after the beginning of the internal strife. The majority of the artifacts was transferred and preserved at secret locations to protect them.
It partially resumed in 2018 and returned to normal in the beginning of the year, four weeks after opposition groups overthrew President Bashar al-Assad.
Every one of nationally recognized sites were affected or significantly impacted during the conflict.
The militant faction demolished numerous temples and other structures at the archaeological site, claiming that they were un-Islamic. International authorities censured the destruction as a atrocity.
Numerous cultural items were also destroyed or looted from archaeological sites and museums.
