Ancient Statues Removed from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Valuable sculptures and additional items have been removed from Syria's National Museum in the capital, authorities report.
The theft was discovered on Monday, when employees reportedly found that an entrance had been damaged from the interior.
The half-dozen stolen statues were marble creations and originated to the ancient Roman times, an authority told the Associated Press.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had launched a probe to establish the "circumstances surrounding the loss of a group of artifacts", and that actions had been enacted to strengthen security and surveillance.
The head of domestic security in Damascus province, General Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the official media as stating that authorities were investigating the robbery, which he said had affected several "archaeological statues and unique items".
He continued that museum protectors at the facility and other individuals were being questioned.
The Damascus Museum, which was founded in the early twentieth century, contains the primary historical artifacts in the country.
It includes ancient inscribed tablets dating back to the ancient era from historical site, where evidence of the oldest known linguistic system was uncovered; early centuries CE Greco-Roman sculptures from historical site, a significant ancient sites of the ancient world; and a ancient Jewish temple that was established at Dura Europos.
The museum was forced to close in the early 2010s, a year after the outbreak of the destructive conflict. A large portion of the artifacts was evacuated and stored at secret locations to safeguard them.
It partially resumed in 2018 and returned to normal in the beginning of the year, four weeks after rebel forces deposed Syria's former leader.
Every one of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were harmed or significantly impacted during the civil war.
The Islamic State group demolished numerous temples and other structures at the ancient city, asserting that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization censured the demolition as a violation.
Many cultural items were also lost or stolen from historical locations and museums.
