Valuable Artifacts Stolen from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic sculptures and cultural objects have been removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, authorities report.
The burglary was discovered on the start of the week, when staff reportedly found that one of the museum's doors had been forced from the interior.
The half-dozen missing sculptures were made of marble and originated to the Roman era, an authority informed the news agency.
Cultural heritage officials said it had launched a probe to establish the "circumstances surrounding the loss of a number of artifacts", and that measures had been enacted to enhance safeguarding and monitoring systems.
The director of domestic security in the Damascus region, Security Chief Atkeh, was quoted by the government press as declaring that authorities were probing the robbery, which he said had targeted several "historical artifacts and rare collectibles".
He added that security personnel at the institution and other persons were being interviewed.
The cultural institution, which was created in the early twentieth century, houses the significant historical artifacts in Syria.
It includes historical records originating to the Bronze Age from an ancient city, where evidence of the most ancient writing system was found; Greco-Roman period classical statues from Palmyra, among the foremost ancient sites of the ancient world; and a ancient synagogue that was built at Dura Europos.
The institution was compelled to shut in 2012, a year after the beginning of the destructive conflict. A large portion of the holdings was transferred and preserved at secure places to protect them.
It began limited operations in recent years and completely reopened in early this year, one month after rebel forces removed Syria's former leader.
Every one of the country's cultural landmarks were affected or partly ruined during the civil war.
The militant faction demolished multiple religious structures and historical sites at the ancient city, asserting that they were idolatrous. International authorities denounced the demolition as a violation.
Numerous historical objects were also destroyed or looted from archaeological sites and cultural institutions.
