Ancient Sculptures Removed from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient statues and cultural objects have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, authorities report.
The robbery was noticed on the start of the week, when museum workers reportedly found that a doorway had been forced from the inside.
The multiple stolen sculptures were crafted from marble and dated back to the Roman period, an authority stated to the Associated Press.
Cultural heritage officials said it had opened an investigation to identify the "events surrounding the disappearance of a group of exhibits", and that steps had been implemented to enhance safeguarding and observation methods.
The director of internal security in Damascus province, Security Chief Atkeh, was referenced by the state-run Sana news agency as declaring that law enforcement were probing the incident, which he said had targeted several "historical artifacts and unique items".
He added that museum protectors at the museum and additional people were being interrogated.
The National Museum, which was created in the early twentieth century, holds the primary archaeological collection in Syria.
It includes ancient inscribed tablets tracing back to the ancient era from an ancient city, where proof of the most ancient complete alphabet was uncovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD Greco-Roman sculptures from historical site, a significant ancient sites of the ancient world; and a 3rd Century AD synagogue that was constructed at an ancient location.
The facility was forced to close in 2012, twelve months after the outbreak of the devastating civil war. The majority of the artifacts was transferred and stored at secret locations to protect them.
It began limited operations in 2018 and returned to normal in the beginning of the year, four weeks after opposition groups overthrew Syria's former leader.
Each of the six of the country's cultural landmarks were affected or significantly impacted during the internal struggle.
The militant faction blew up multiple temples and additional edifices at Palmyra, stating that they were against their beliefs. The cultural organization condemned the destruction as a war crime.
Many cultural items were also destroyed or stolen from historical locations and collections.
