Historic Sculptures Removed from the National Museum in Damascus
Ancient artifacts and cultural objects have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, authorities report.
The robbery was noticed on the start of the week, when staff reportedly found that one of the museum's doors had been broken from the inside.
The multiple stolen sculptures were made of marble and traced back to the Roman period, a source told the media outlet.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had launched a probe to identify the "circumstances surrounding the theft of a group of exhibits", and that steps had been enacted to strengthen security and observation methods.
The chief of domestic security in Damascus province, General Osama Atkeh, was cited by the government press as stating that authorities were examining the incident, which he said had focused on several "historical artifacts and valuable objects".
He continued that security personnel at the facility and additional people were being interrogated.
The cultural institution, which was created in 1919, houses the significant archaeological collection in Syria.
It features clay cuneiform tablets originating to the Bronze Age from historical site, where evidence of the earliest writing system was discovered; Greco-Roman period ancient art from historical site, a significant cultural centres of the classical era; and a third century synagogue that was established at Dura Europos.
The facility was forced to close in the early 2010s, twelve months after the outbreak of the destructive conflict. Most of the collection was evacuated and kept at undisclosed sites to protect them.
It began limited operations in recent years and resumed full operations in the beginning of the year, one month after rebel forces deposed Syria's former leader.
Each of the six of the country's cultural landmarks were damaged or significantly impacted during the conflict.
The IS organization demolished several ancient buildings and other structures at the archaeological site, asserting that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization denounced the demolition as a violation.
Countless artefacts were also destroyed or taken from dig sites and museums.
