Ancient Artifacts Removed from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient artifacts and cultural objects have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, authorities report.
The robbery was found on Monday, when employees allegedly found that one of the museum's doors had been broken from the interior.
The half-dozen taken statues were marble creations and originated to the Roman era, an authority told the news agency.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "circumstances surrounding the theft of a group of artifacts", and that actions had been implemented to improve safeguarding and monitoring systems.
The director of national security in the Damascus region, General Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the official media as saying that law enforcement were examining the theft, which he said had targeted several "archaeological statues and valuable objects".
He continued that guards at the museum and additional people were being interrogated.
The Damascus Museum, which was created in the early twentieth century, houses the significant cultural treasures in Syria.
It features historical records tracing back to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where evidence of the oldest known writing system was discovered; early centuries CE Greco-Roman sculptures from the ancient city, one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world; and a 3rd Century AD Jewish temple that was constructed at an ancient location.
The museum was forced to close in 2012, a year after the start of the destructive conflict. Most of the collection was removed and preserved at secure places to protect them.
It reopened partially in recent years and returned to normal in January 2025, four weeks after rebel forces overthrew Syria's former leader.
Every one of the country's cultural landmarks were damaged or partially destroyed during the civil war.
The IS organization destroyed numerous temples and historical sites at the ancient city, asserting that they were against their beliefs. The cultural organization censured the demolition as a atrocity.
Many historical objects were also destroyed or stolen from dig sites and collections.
