Historic Artifacts Taken from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient statues and additional items have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, authorities report.
The burglary was found on Monday, when staff allegedly found that one of the museum's doors had been forced from the inside.
The six stolen pieces were crafted from marble and dated back to the Roman period, a source stated to the news agency.
Cultural heritage officials said it had opened an investigation to determine the "circumstances surrounding the loss of a number of artifacts", and that measures had been implemented to enhance safeguarding and surveillance.
The director of internal security in the Damascus region, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was cited by the official media as saying that law enforcement were investigating the incident, which he said had focused on several "archaeological statues and unique items".
He noted that museum protectors at the institution and other individuals were being interviewed.
The Damascus Museum, which was established in the early twentieth century, holds the significant historical artifacts in Syria.
It includes historical records dating back to the Bronze Age from an ancient city, where indications of the most ancient linguistic system was found; Greco-Roman period ancient art from Palmyra, among the foremost ancient sites of the ancient world; and a 3rd Century AD religious building that was established at Dura Europos.
The museum was forced to close in 2012, a year after the start of the internal strife. Most of the holdings was evacuated and preserved at secure places to safeguard them.
It began limited operations in 2018 and resumed full operations in the beginning of the year, four weeks after opposition groups deposed President Bashar al-Assad.
Each of the six of the country's cultural landmarks were affected or partially destroyed during the internal struggle.
The militant faction demolished several religious structures and other structures at the archaeological site, asserting that they were against their beliefs. International authorities condemned the damage as a violation.
Many cultural items were also damaged or taken from dig sites and cultural institutions.
