Ancient Sculptures Removed from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic sculptures and additional items have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, officials say.
The robbery was discovered on Monday, when museum workers allegedly found that one of the museum's doors had been broken from the interior.
The half-dozen stolen pieces were marble creations and traced back to the Roman period, an authority informed the news agency.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had launched a probe to determine the "events surrounding the disappearance of a number of items", and that steps had been taken to strengthen protection and surveillance.
The head of national security in the Damascus region, General Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the official media as stating that law enforcement were investigating the robbery, which he said had targeted several "archaeological statues and rare collectibles".
He noted that security personnel at the facility and other persons were being interrogated.
The Damascus Museum, which was established in 1919, houses the significant historical artifacts in the country.
It includes ancient inscribed tablets tracing back to the Bronze Age from historical site, where proof of the oldest known complete alphabet was uncovered; Greco-Roman period classical statues from historical site, among the foremost ancient sites of the ancient world; and a ancient Jewish temple that was built at another archaeological site.
The museum was had to cease operations in 2012, a year after the outbreak of the devastating civil war. The majority of the holdings was transferred and stored at undisclosed sites to protect them.
It reopened partially in recent years and completely reopened in January 2025, one month after opposition groups overthrew Syria's former leader.
All six of nationally recognized sites were affected or partly ruined during the conflict.
The IS organization destroyed multiple religious structures and historical sites at Palmyra, stating that they were idolatrous. International authorities censured the damage as a atrocity.
Countless cultural items were also damaged or looted from archaeological sites and museums.
