Valuable Statues Taken from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Valuable sculptures and additional items have been taken from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, sources confirm.
The burglary was noticed on Monday, when museum workers apparently found that a doorway had been damaged from the interior.
The multiple taken pieces were marble creations and traced back to the Roman period, a source informed the Associated Press.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had initiated an inquiry to identify the "circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a collection of artifacts", and that actions had been taken to strengthen safeguarding and observation methods.
The chief of national security in the Damascus region, General Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the state-run Sana news agency as stating that authorities were probing the robbery, which he said had focused on several "archaeological statues and valuable objects".
He continued that museum protectors at the museum and other individuals were being interrogated.
The National Museum, which was established in the early twentieth century, houses the most important archaeological collection in Syria.
It contains historical records originating to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where indications of the most ancient linguistic system was discovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD ancient art from Palmyra, one of the most important historical locations of the classical era; and a 3rd Century AD Jewish temple that was constructed at Dura Europos.
The museum was forced to close in the early 2010s, one year after the outbreak of the internal strife. Most of the holdings was transferred and stored at secret locations to safeguard them.
It partially resumed in recent years and returned to normal in the beginning of the year, one month after rebel forces deposed Syria's former leader.
Every one of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were affected or significantly impacted during the conflict.
The Islamic State group blew up multiple temples and additional edifices at Palmyra, claiming that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization condemned the damage as a violation.
Many cultural items were also damaged or stolen from dig sites and collections.
