Historic Artifacts Removed from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient statues and other artefacts have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, sources confirm.
The theft was discovered on the start of the week, when staff reportedly found that a doorway had been damaged from the inside.
The half-dozen stolen pieces were marble creations and originated to the Roman era, a source told the news agency.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had opened an investigation to determine the "events surrounding the theft of a number of exhibits", and that steps had been enacted to strengthen security and surveillance.
The director of internal security in Damascus province, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the government press as declaring that law enforcement were probing the robbery, which he said had affected several "archaeological statues and unique items".
He noted that guards at the facility and other individuals were being questioned.
The National Museum, which was created in the early twentieth century, contains the significant historical artifacts in Syria.
It contains ancient inscribed tablets dating back to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where evidence of the oldest known linguistic system was discovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD ancient art from historical site, a significant cultural centres of the ancient world; and a third century religious building that was established at an ancient location.
The museum was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, a year after the beginning of the devastating civil war. The majority of the collection was evacuated and kept at secret locations to protect them.
It partially resumed in 2018 and completely reopened in January 2025, a month after opposition groups overthrew the Assad regime.
Each of the six of the country's cultural landmarks were affected or partially destroyed during the civil war.
The Islamic State group demolished multiple ancient buildings and historical sites at the archaeological site, stating that they were against their beliefs. The cultural organization denounced the damage as a violation.
Numerous cultural items were also damaged or stolen from dig sites and collections.