Ancient Statues Stolen from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Valuable sculptures and cultural objects have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, authorities report.
The theft was discovered on Monday, when staff reportedly found that an entrance had been forced from the interior.
The half-dozen stolen sculptures were marble creations and dated back to the Roman period, an authority informed the Associated Press.
Cultural heritage officials said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a group of exhibits", and that actions had been enacted to improve security and surveillance.
The director of national security in Damascus province, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the government press as saying that law enforcement were examining the theft, which he said had affected several "historical artifacts and unique items".
He continued that guards at the facility and other persons were being questioned.
The Damascus Museum, which was established in the early twentieth century, contains the most important cultural treasures in the country.
It includes clay cuneiform tablets originating to the 14th Century BC from an ancient city, where evidence of the most ancient complete alphabet was discovered; early centuries CE classical statues from the ancient city, among the foremost historical locations of the ancient world; and a ancient religious building that was established at an ancient location.
The museum was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, a year after the start of the devastating civil war. Most of the holdings was evacuated and kept at secure places to protect them.
It began limited operations in 2018 and completely reopened in the beginning of the year, one month after insurgents overthrew Syria's former leader.
All six of nationally recognized sites were harmed or partly ruined during the civil war.
The IS organization blew up multiple religious structures and historical sites at the ancient city, stating that they were against their beliefs. The cultural organization censured the destruction as a violation.
Many cultural items were also damaged or stolen from dig sites and cultural institutions.
