Valuable Artifacts Removed from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Valuable sculptures and other artefacts have been removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, sources confirm.
The burglary was noticed on Monday, when museum workers allegedly found that a doorway had been damaged from the inside.
The multiple taken pieces were marble creations and originated to the ancient Roman times, one official informed the media outlet.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had opened an investigation to determine the "circumstances surrounding the theft of a group of exhibits", and that actions had been taken to strengthen security and monitoring systems.
The chief of domestic security in Damascus province, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the government press as stating that security forces were probing the theft, which he said had affected several "archaeological statues and rare collectibles".
He added that security personnel at the institution and other persons were being questioned.
The cultural institution, which was created in 1919, holds the significant historical artifacts in Syria.
It contains clay cuneiform tablets dating back to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where indications of the most ancient writing system was found; early centuries CE Greco-Roman sculptures from the ancient city, among the foremost cultural centres of the historical period; and a ancient religious building that was established at another archaeological site.
The facility was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, one year after the beginning of the internal strife. A large portion of the collection was transferred and preserved at secret locations to safeguard them.
It partially resumed in 2018 and returned to normal in early this year, a month after insurgents overthrew President Bashar al-Assad.
All six of nationally recognized sites were damaged or partially destroyed during the civil war.
The Islamic State group blew up multiple ancient buildings and other structures at the ancient city, stating that they were against their beliefs. The cultural organization condemned the damage as a atrocity.
Many historical objects were also destroyed or taken from historical locations and collections.
