Ancient Artifacts Stolen from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient sculptures and cultural objects have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, authorities report.
The robbery was found on the start of the week, when museum workers allegedly found that an entrance had been damaged from the interior.
The half-dozen missing sculptures were made of marble and dated back to the Roman era, an authority told the news agency.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had initiated an inquiry to identify the "details surrounding the theft of a collection of exhibits", and that measures had been enacted to strengthen safeguarding and surveillance.
The director of domestic security in Damascus province, Security Chief Atkeh, was referenced by the government press as declaring that authorities were investigating the robbery, which he said had targeted several "historical artifacts and rare collectibles".
He noted that security personnel at the facility and other persons were being interrogated.
The cultural institution, which was established in the early twentieth century, houses the significant historical artifacts in Syria.
It contains historical records originating to the 14th Century BC from an ancient city, where evidence of the earliest complete alphabet was found; 1st and 2nd Century AD Greco-Roman sculptures from the ancient city, among the foremost historical locations of the ancient world; and a 3rd Century AD Jewish temple that was constructed at another archaeological site.
The institution was had to cease operations in 2012, twelve months after the start of the internal strife. The majority of the holdings was removed and preserved at secret locations to ensure their safety.
It began limited operations in 2018 and completely reopened in the beginning of the year, four weeks after insurgents deposed President Bashar al-Assad.
All six of nationally recognized sites were harmed or partially destroyed during the internal struggle.
The militant faction blew up numerous ancient buildings and historical sites at the archaeological site, asserting that they were idolatrous. International authorities condemned the destruction as a atrocity.
Countless artefacts were also destroyed or taken from dig sites and museums.
