Historic Artifacts Removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus
Ancient artifacts and additional items have been removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, officials say.
The theft was noticed on Monday, when staff allegedly found that a doorway had been forced from the interior.
The multiple taken sculptures were marble creations and traced back to the ancient Roman times, an authority told the media outlet.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had opened an investigation to determine the "circumstances surrounding the loss of a number of items", and that steps had been implemented to improve security and surveillance.
The director of internal security in the Damascus region, Security Chief Atkeh, was referenced by the state-run Sana news agency as declaring that security forces were probing the theft, which he said had affected several "archaeological statues and rare collectibles".
He noted that guards at the museum and other individuals were being interrogated.
The cultural institution, which was founded in the early twentieth century, contains the most important cultural treasures in Syria.
It includes clay cuneiform tablets dating back to the Bronze Age from Ugarit, where evidence of the oldest known complete alphabet was uncovered; early centuries CE Greco-Roman sculptures from Palmyra, one of the most important historical locations of the ancient world; and a 3rd Century AD religious building that was constructed at Dura Europos.
The museum was compelled to shut in 2012, a year after the start of the destructive conflict. A large portion of the holdings was transferred and stored at undisclosed sites to ensure their safety.
It reopened partially in recent years and completely reopened in the beginning of the year, a month after opposition groups removed President Bashar al-Assad.
Each of the six of the country's cultural landmarks were damaged or partially destroyed during the civil war.
The militant faction blew up several temples and historical sites at the archaeological site, asserting that they were against their beliefs. International authorities censured the demolition as a war crime.
Numerous artefacts were also destroyed or taken from archaeological sites and museums.
