Ancient Statues Removed from the National Museum in Damascus
Ancient statues and additional items have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, sources confirm.
The theft was discovered on Monday, when staff apparently found that one of the museum's doors had been damaged from the inside.
The six taken pieces were marble creations and traced back to the Roman period, one official told the media outlet.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had opened an investigation to establish the "events surrounding the loss of a number of exhibits", and that steps had been implemented to enhance safeguarding and observation methods.
The chief of domestic security in the capital area, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the official media as stating that authorities were examining the robbery, which he said had affected several "archaeological statues and valuable objects".
He continued that museum protectors at the museum and other individuals were being questioned.
The cultural institution, which was founded in 1919, holds the primary archaeological collection in the country.
It includes historical records originating to the Bronze Age from Ugarit, where evidence of the most ancient writing system was uncovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD classical statues from historical site, one of the most important historical locations of the classical era; and a ancient religious building that was established at Dura Europos.
The facility was forced to close in 2012, one year after the outbreak of the internal strife. A large portion of the artifacts was evacuated and stored at undisclosed sites to safeguard them.
It reopened partially in recent years and resumed full operations in early this year, one month after insurgents deposed Syria's former leader.
Each of the six of the country's cultural landmarks were harmed or partly ruined during the internal struggle.
The militant faction destroyed several temples and other structures at Palmyra, claiming that they were idolatrous. International authorities denounced the damage as a war crime.
Countless artefacts were also destroyed or looted from dig sites and museums.
