Ancient Statues Removed from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient statues and additional items have been taken from Syria's National Museum in the capital, sources confirm.
The theft was noticed on Monday, when staff allegedly found that a doorway had been broken from the interior.
The multiple taken sculptures were made of marble and originated to the ancient Roman times, an authority told the media outlet.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had initiated an inquiry to determine the "events surrounding the loss of a number of artifacts", and that steps had been taken to enhance protection and observation methods.
The chief of national security in Damascus province, General Osama Atkeh, was cited by the state-run Sana news agency as stating that authorities were examining the robbery, which he said had targeted several "historical artifacts and rare collectibles".
He continued that security personnel at the institution and other persons were being questioned.
The cultural institution, which was established in the early twentieth century, contains the most important historical artifacts in Syria.
It includes clay cuneiform tablets tracing back to the 14th Century BC from historical site, where indications of the oldest known complete alphabet was found; 1st and 2nd Century AD ancient art from the ancient city, among the foremost cultural centres of the classical era; and a 3rd Century AD religious building that was established at another archaeological site.
The museum was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, twelve months after the start of the internal strife. Most of the holdings was removed and stored at secret locations to safeguard them.
It partially resumed in recent years and returned to normal in early this year, one month after rebel forces deposed President Bashar al-Assad.
Each of the six of nationally recognized sites were damaged or significantly impacted during the conflict.
The militant faction demolished multiple ancient buildings and historical sites at the ancient city, stating that they were un-Islamic. Unesco denounced the demolition as a atrocity.
Countless historical objects were also destroyed or looted from dig sites and museums.
