Ancient Artifacts Stolen from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Valuable artifacts and cultural objects have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, sources confirm.
The burglary was discovered on the start of the week, when museum workers apparently found that a doorway had been broken from the interior.
The multiple missing statues were crafted from marble and dated back to the ancient Roman times, an authority stated to the media outlet.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had opened an investigation to determine the "events surrounding the disappearance of a collection of items", and that actions had been implemented to enhance safeguarding and observation methods.
The head of national security in the Damascus region, Security Chief Atkeh, was cited by the official media as declaring that law enforcement were probing the theft, which he said had targeted several "archaeological statues and valuable objects".
He continued that guards at the museum and additional people were being interrogated.
The National Museum, which was created in the early twentieth century, holds the primary cultural treasures in Syria.
It includes historical records originating to the ancient era from historical site, where proof of the most ancient writing system was discovered; early centuries CE classical statues from historical site, one of the most important ancient sites of the classical era; and a third century synagogue that was built at an ancient location.
The museum was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, one year after the start of the devastating civil war. A large portion of the holdings was removed and stored at undisclosed sites to safeguard them.
It reopened partially in 2018 and completely reopened in early this year, a month after rebel forces deposed Syria's former leader.
Every one of the country's cultural landmarks were affected or significantly impacted during the civil war.
The IS organization blew up numerous ancient buildings and historical sites at the archaeological site, claiming that they were against their beliefs. International authorities denounced the destruction as a war crime.
Numerous historical objects were also destroyed or stolen from dig sites and collections.
