Historic Sculptures Removed from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient sculptures and other artefacts have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, officials say.
The burglary was found on the start of the week, when employees apparently found that a doorway had been damaged from the inside.
The half-dozen taken statues were crafted from marble and originated to the Roman era, one official informed the Associated Press.
Cultural heritage officials said it had initiated an inquiry to determine the "details surrounding the disappearance of a number of items", and that actions had been enacted to enhance protection and surveillance.
The director of internal security in the capital area, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was cited by the state-run Sana news agency as stating that law enforcement were examining the theft, which he said had focused on several "historical artifacts and valuable objects".
He added that museum protectors at the museum and additional people were being interrogated.
The Damascus Museum, which was founded in the early twentieth century, houses the significant archaeological collection in the country.
It includes clay cuneiform tablets tracing back to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where evidence of the oldest known writing system was found; 1st and 2nd Century AD Greco-Roman sculptures from historical site, a significant cultural centres of the historical period; and a third century Jewish temple that was constructed at another archaeological site.
The institution was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, one year after the beginning of the destructive conflict. The majority of the collection was evacuated and kept at secure places to ensure their safety.
It partially resumed in recent years and returned to normal in the beginning of the year, four weeks after rebel forces deposed the Assad regime.
Every one of the country's cultural landmarks were damaged or significantly impacted during the conflict.
The IS organization destroyed several religious structures and historical sites at the ancient city, claiming that they were against their beliefs. The cultural organization denounced the damage as a war crime.
Many cultural items were also lost or looted from historical locations and museums.
