Historic Statues Removed from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic sculptures and additional items have been removed from Syria's National Museum in the capital, officials say.
The robbery was discovered on the start of the week, when museum workers allegedly found that an entrance had been forced from the inside.
The half-dozen missing pieces were crafted from marble and dated back to the ancient Roman times, one official told the media outlet.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had opened an investigation to establish the "circumstances surrounding the loss of a number of exhibits", and that actions had been implemented to strengthen security and monitoring systems.
The chief of domestic security in the capital area, General Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the government press as saying that authorities were investigating the incident, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and unique items".
He continued that museum protectors at the museum and other persons were being interrogated.
The National Museum, which was established in the early twentieth century, holds the significant archaeological collection in Syria.
It features historical records tracing back to the 14th Century BC from historical site, where indications of the most ancient writing system was discovered; early centuries CE ancient art from historical site, among the foremost cultural centres of the historical period; and a ancient Jewish temple that was constructed at Dura Europos.
The institution was forced to close in the early 2010s, one year after the start of the internal strife. The majority of the collection was removed and preserved at secure places to protect them.
It began limited operations in 2018 and completely reopened in early this year, a month after insurgents removed the Assad regime.
Every one of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were affected or partially destroyed during the conflict.
The Islamic State group demolished multiple religious structures and other structures at Palmyra, stating that they were un-Islamic. The cultural organization censured the demolition as a atrocity.
Countless cultural items were also lost or looted from historical locations and collections.
