Ancient Artifacts Removed from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient sculptures and cultural objects have been removed from Syria's National Museum in the capital, sources confirm.
The robbery was found on Monday, when employees apparently found that a doorway had been broken from the inside.
The six missing sculptures were crafted from marble and dated back to the ancient Roman times, an authority stated to the media outlet.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had initiated an inquiry to determine the "events surrounding the disappearance of a group of items", and that measures had been taken to strengthen protection and surveillance.
The head of national security in the capital area, Security Chief Atkeh, was cited by the state-run Sana news agency as saying that law enforcement were probing the theft, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and valuable objects".
He noted that guards at the institution and other individuals were being interrogated.
The National Museum, which was established in 1919, houses the most important archaeological collection in Syria.
It features clay cuneiform tablets originating to the 14th Century BC from historical site, where indications of the oldest known complete alphabet was found; 1st and 2nd Century AD ancient art from the ancient city, one of the most important historical locations of the historical period; and a third century synagogue that was constructed at Dura Europos.
The facility was compelled to shut in 2012, twelve months after the beginning of the internal strife. A large portion of the collection was evacuated and preserved at secure places to protect them.
It partially resumed in recent years and completely reopened in January 2025, one month after opposition groups removed President Bashar al-Assad.
Each of the six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were harmed or partly ruined during the internal struggle.
The militant faction demolished several temples and other structures at the archaeological site, asserting that they were un-Islamic. The cultural organization censured the demolition as a violation.
Many historical objects were also lost or taken from dig sites and cultural institutions.
