Ancient Sculptures Removed from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Valuable artifacts and other artefacts have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in the capital, authorities report.
The burglary was noticed on Monday, when employees reportedly found that a doorway had been damaged from the inside.
The half-dozen stolen pieces were made of marble and originated to the ancient Roman times, an authority informed the news agency.
Cultural heritage officials said it had initiated an inquiry to determine the "details surrounding the loss of a group of exhibits", and that measures had been enacted to improve safeguarding and surveillance.
The director of internal security in Damascus province, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was cited by the official media as saying that law enforcement were investigating the robbery, which he said had focused on several "historical artifacts and valuable objects".
He continued that museum protectors at the facility and additional people were being interviewed.
The cultural institution, which was created in 1919, houses the most important historical artifacts in Syria.
It includes clay cuneiform tablets dating back to the ancient era from historical site, where proof of the earliest writing system was discovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD Greco-Roman sculptures from historical site, one of the most important ancient sites of the historical period; and a ancient synagogue that was built at an ancient location.
The museum was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, twelve months after the beginning of the destructive conflict. The majority of the holdings was evacuated and preserved at undisclosed sites to safeguard them.
It began limited operations in recent years and resumed full operations in the beginning of the year, one month after insurgents deposed the Assad regime.
Every one of the country's cultural landmarks were harmed or partially destroyed during the conflict.
The militant faction blew up numerous religious structures and additional edifices at Palmyra, stating that they were un-Islamic. Unesco condemned the destruction as a atrocity.
Countless historical objects were also damaged or taken from dig sites and museums.
