Historic Statues Taken from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient statues and other artefacts have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, authorities report.
The burglary was discovered on the start of the week, when museum workers reportedly found that an entrance had been broken from the inside.
The six taken sculptures were crafted from marble and dated back to the Roman period, one official told the Associated Press.
Cultural heritage officials said it had initiated an inquiry to determine the "circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a group of items", and that measures had been enacted to enhance protection and observation methods.
The chief of domestic security in the capital area, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the government press as stating that law enforcement were investigating the robbery, which he said had focused on several "archaeological statues and unique items".
He added that guards at the facility and other individuals were being questioned.
The National Museum, which was established in the early twentieth century, contains the primary historical artifacts in Syria.
It includes ancient inscribed tablets originating to the 14th Century BC from an ancient city, where proof of the oldest known linguistic system was found; early centuries CE Greco-Roman sculptures from Palmyra, among the foremost historical locations of the historical period; and a third century Jewish temple that was established at an ancient location.
The museum was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, one year after the outbreak of the devastating civil war. Most of the holdings was removed and kept at undisclosed sites to ensure their safety.
It reopened partially in recent years and completely reopened in January 2025, four weeks after insurgents overthrew President Bashar al-Assad.
All six of nationally recognized sites were affected or partially destroyed during the civil war.
The militant faction destroyed multiple temples and other structures at Palmyra, claiming that they were idolatrous. Unesco condemned the destruction as a war crime.
Countless historical objects were also lost or looted from dig sites and cultural institutions.
