Historic Artifacts Removed from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Valuable sculptures and other artefacts have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, officials say.
The burglary was discovered on Monday, when employees allegedly found that a doorway had been forced from the interior.
The six missing sculptures were made of marble and originated to the ancient Roman times, one official told the media outlet.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had launched a probe to establish the "circumstances surrounding the loss of a group of exhibits", and that steps had been implemented to enhance protection and surveillance.
The chief of domestic security in the Damascus region, General Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the state-run Sana news agency as declaring that authorities were examining the robbery, which he said had focused on several "archaeological statues and rare collectibles".
He noted that guards at the institution and additional people were being interrogated.
The Damascus Museum, which was created in the early twentieth century, contains the significant historical artifacts in Syria.
It features historical records originating to the Bronze Age from Ugarit, where indications of the earliest linguistic system was uncovered; early centuries CE ancient art from historical site, a significant cultural centres of the historical period; and a ancient Jewish temple that was established at an ancient location.
The facility was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, one year after the beginning of the devastating civil war. Most of the holdings was evacuated and stored at undisclosed sites to safeguard them.
It reopened partially in recent years and completely reopened in early this year, four weeks after insurgents deposed President Bashar al-Assad.
All six of the country's cultural landmarks were affected or partially destroyed during the internal struggle.
The Islamic State group demolished numerous temples and other structures at the ancient city, claiming that they were un-Islamic. International authorities condemned the destruction as a violation.
Numerous artefacts were also lost or stolen from dig sites and cultural institutions.
