Ancient Artifacts Removed from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic sculptures and other artefacts have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, authorities report.
The theft was found on the start of the week, when employees apparently found that one of the museum's doors had been broken from the inside.
The half-dozen stolen pieces were crafted from marble and traced back to the Roman period, one official told the Associated Press.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had launched a probe to determine the "circumstances surrounding the theft of a number of artifacts", and that actions had been enacted to strengthen protection and observation methods.
The head of internal security in Damascus province, General Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the government press as stating that authorities were probing the incident, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and rare collectibles".
He noted that security personnel at the facility and other individuals were being questioned.
The Damascus Museum, which was founded in the early twentieth century, contains the most important archaeological collection in Syria.
It includes historical records dating back to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where indications of the most ancient complete alphabet was discovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD ancient art from the ancient city, a significant cultural centres of the classical era; and a third century Jewish temple that was constructed at another archaeological site.
The facility was forced to close in 2012, one year after the beginning of the devastating civil war. A large portion of the holdings was transferred and kept at secret locations to safeguard them.
It began limited operations in 2018 and resumed full operations in early this year, one month after rebel forces deposed the Assad regime.
Every one of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were affected or partly ruined during the civil war.
The IS organization destroyed numerous ancient buildings and additional edifices at the archaeological site, claiming that they were un-Islamic. International authorities condemned the destruction as a atrocity.
Countless cultural items were also damaged or taken from historical locations and collections.
