Historic Artifacts Removed from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient sculptures and additional items have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, sources confirm.
The robbery was found on Monday, when employees allegedly found that a doorway had been broken from the interior.
The half-dozen stolen sculptures were made of marble and dated back to the Roman era, one official told the news agency.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had opened an investigation to identify the "events surrounding the disappearance of a collection of exhibits", and that steps had been taken to strengthen safeguarding and monitoring systems.
The head of national security in Damascus province, Security Chief Atkeh, was quoted by the government press as stating that law enforcement were examining the incident, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and valuable objects".
He noted that guards at the institution and other individuals were being questioned.
The Damascus Museum, which was created in 1919, houses the significant archaeological collection in Syria.
It includes historical records dating back to the Bronze Age from an ancient city, where indications of the earliest writing system was discovered; Greco-Roman period classical statues from Palmyra, one of the most important cultural centres of the ancient world; and a ancient religious building that was established at another archaeological site.
The facility was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, twelve months after the beginning of the devastating civil war. A large portion of the artifacts was removed and stored at secure places to safeguard them.
It reopened partially in recent years and completely reopened in January 2025, four weeks after insurgents deposed President Bashar al-Assad.
Every one of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were affected or partly ruined during the civil war.
The IS organization blew up several religious structures and other structures at Palmyra, asserting that they were idolatrous. Unesco censured the damage as a violation.
Many historical objects were also lost or taken from historical locations and museums.
