Ancient Statues Removed from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic statues and cultural objects have been removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, sources confirm.
The theft was found on the start of the week, when museum workers allegedly found that a doorway had been forced from the inside.
The six missing pieces were crafted from marble and traced back to the Roman period, an authority informed the news agency.
Cultural heritage officials said it had launched a probe to determine the "details surrounding the theft of a number of exhibits", and that actions had been implemented to strengthen safeguarding and monitoring systems.
The director of internal security in Damascus province, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the government press as stating that authorities were investigating the robbery, which he said had focused on several "ancient sculptures and rare collectibles".
He noted that museum protectors at the institution and other individuals were being interrogated.
The Damascus Museum, which was founded in 1919, holds the significant archaeological collection in the country.
It contains historical records originating to the Bronze Age from historical site, where indications of the most ancient complete alphabet was found; Greco-Roman period Greco-Roman sculptures from historical site, one of the most important cultural centres of the classical era; and a third century synagogue that was built at another archaeological site.
The institution was compelled to shut in 2012, twelve months after the start of the internal strife. The majority of the holdings was transferred and kept at secret locations to ensure their safety.
It reopened partially in recent years and returned to normal in early this year, a month after rebel forces deposed Syria's former leader.
All six of the country's cultural landmarks were affected or significantly impacted during the internal struggle.
The IS organization destroyed multiple religious structures and other structures at Palmyra, asserting that they were un-Islamic. International authorities censured the destruction as a violation.
Numerous historical objects were also lost or stolen from historical locations and cultural institutions.
