Valuable Statues Taken from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Valuable artifacts and cultural objects have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, sources confirm.
The theft was noticed on Monday, when staff apparently found that an entrance had been forced from the interior.
The multiple taken pieces were made of marble and dated back to the Roman period, an authority told the news agency.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had initiated an inquiry to identify the "events surrounding the theft of a number of artifacts", and that actions had been enacted to improve protection and observation methods.
The head of national security in the Damascus region, General Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the official media as stating that authorities were examining the robbery, which he said had targeted several "archaeological statues and unique items".
He added that guards at the institution and other persons were being interrogated.
The National Museum, which was established in the early twentieth century, holds the most important archaeological collection in the country.
It includes historical records tracing back to the Bronze Age from historical site, where proof of the most ancient writing system was uncovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD classical statues from historical site, a significant ancient sites of the classical era; and a 3rd Century AD Jewish temple that was established at an ancient location.
The museum was compelled to shut in 2012, one year after the start of the destructive conflict. The majority of the holdings was evacuated and kept at secure places to safeguard them.
It began limited operations in 2018 and completely reopened in early this year, a month after insurgents removed President Bashar al-Assad.
Every one of the country's cultural landmarks were damaged or partially destroyed during the civil war.
The Islamic State group demolished several religious structures and historical sites at the ancient city, stating that they were idolatrous. Unesco denounced the demolition as a atrocity.
Numerous historical objects were also lost or stolen from dig sites and museums.
