Historic Sculptures Removed from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient statues and cultural objects have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, officials say.
The burglary was discovered on Monday, when employees reportedly found that an entrance had been broken from the inside.
The half-dozen missing pieces were made of marble and dated back to the ancient Roman times, an authority informed the news agency.
Cultural heritage officials said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "details surrounding the disappearance of a collection of items", and that measures had been taken to strengthen security and observation methods.
The chief of domestic security in Damascus province, General Osama Atkeh, was cited by the official media as declaring that law enforcement were investigating the incident, which he said had focused on several "archaeological statues and rare collectibles".
He continued that security personnel at the institution and other individuals were being interrogated.
The Damascus Museum, which was established in the early twentieth century, contains the significant cultural treasures in the country.
It features clay cuneiform tablets dating back to the ancient era from Ugarit, where evidence of the most ancient writing system was found; Greco-Roman period classical statues from Palmyra, a significant historical locations of the classical era; and a ancient synagogue that was established at an ancient location.
The museum was had to cease operations in 2012, twelve months after the beginning of the destructive conflict. A large portion of the artifacts was removed and preserved at undisclosed sites to ensure their safety.
It began limited operations in recent years and completely reopened in early this year, one month 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 Islamic State group demolished numerous religious structures and other structures at the archaeological site, claiming that they were against their beliefs. International authorities censured the destruction as a war crime.
Countless artefacts were also destroyed or looted from historical locations and cultural institutions.
