Ancient Sculptures Stolen from the National Museum in Damascus
Ancient statues and cultural objects have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, officials say.
The robbery was noticed on the start of the week, when employees apparently found that a doorway had been forced from the interior.
The multiple taken sculptures were marble creations and originated to the Roman era, an authority told the media outlet.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had opened an investigation to identify the "events surrounding the theft of a number of exhibits", and that actions had been enacted to strengthen protection and surveillance.
The head of internal security in Damascus province, General Osama Atkeh, was cited by the government press as declaring that authorities were investigating the robbery, which he said had focused on several "archaeological statues and unique items".
He added that museum protectors at the institution and other persons were being interviewed.
The Damascus Museum, which was established in 1919, houses the most important archaeological collection in the country.
It includes clay cuneiform tablets tracing back to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where proof of the most ancient complete alphabet was uncovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD Greco-Roman sculptures from historical site, among the foremost cultural centres of the ancient world; and a third century religious building that was constructed at Dura Europos.
The museum was forced to close in 2012, a year after the beginning of the destructive conflict. A large portion of the collection was transferred and stored at secret locations to ensure their safety.
It partially resumed in 2018 and completely reopened in January 2025, four weeks after opposition groups removed the Assad regime.
Each of the six of nationally recognized sites were affected or significantly impacted during the conflict.
The IS organization demolished several temples and historical sites at the ancient city, claiming that they were un-Islamic. The cultural organization denounced the damage as a war crime.
Many artefacts were also lost or taken from historical locations and museums.
