Historic Artifacts Stolen from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic sculptures and additional items have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, officials say.
The theft was noticed on Monday, when employees allegedly found that an entrance had been damaged from the interior.
The multiple stolen sculptures were made of marble and traced back to the Roman era, an authority stated to the news agency.
Cultural heritage officials said it had initiated an inquiry to determine the "events surrounding the theft of a group of items", and that steps had been taken to enhance safeguarding and observation methods.
The director of domestic security in Damascus province, General Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the government press as declaring that authorities were investigating the incident, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and rare collectibles".
He added that museum protectors at the museum and other individuals were being interviewed.
The Damascus Museum, which was created in the early twentieth century, holds the most important archaeological collection in Syria.
It includes ancient inscribed tablets tracing back to the Bronze Age from Ugarit, where indications of the most ancient linguistic system was found; early centuries CE ancient art from historical site, among the foremost cultural centres of the classical era; and a ancient religious building that was established at Dura Europos.
The museum was had to cease operations in 2012, one year after the beginning of the internal strife. Most of the collection was evacuated and stored at undisclosed sites to safeguard them.
It reopened partially in recent years and resumed full operations in early this year, a month after opposition groups removed President Bashar al-Assad.
All six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were affected or partially destroyed during the internal struggle.
The IS organization destroyed numerous ancient buildings and historical sites at the archaeological site, stating that they were against their beliefs. Unesco denounced the damage as a war crime.
Numerous artefacts were also destroyed or stolen from historical locations and museums.
