Ancient Sculptures Removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus
Valuable sculptures and cultural objects have been removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, sources confirm.
The robbery was discovered on Monday, when employees reportedly found that an entrance had been forced from the inside.
The multiple stolen pieces were marble creations and originated to the Roman era, an authority stated to the news agency.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had opened an investigation to determine the "circumstances surrounding the loss of a group of exhibits", and that steps had been implemented to improve protection and monitoring systems.
The head of national security in the capital area, Security Chief Atkeh, was referenced by the state-run Sana news agency as saying that authorities were probing the robbery, which he said had targeted several "archaeological statues and rare collectibles".
He continued that museum protectors at the facility and other individuals were being interviewed.
The National Museum, which was created in 1919, holds the most important archaeological collection in Syria.
It includes ancient inscribed tablets dating back to the 14th Century BC from an ancient city, where evidence of the oldest known linguistic system was uncovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD Greco-Roman sculptures from the ancient city, among the foremost ancient sites of the ancient world; and a third century Jewish temple that was established at an ancient location.
The institution was forced to close in 2012, twelve months after the start of the internal strife. Most of the collection was evacuated and stored at secret locations to safeguard them.
It reopened partially in recent years and completely reopened in January 2025, a month after opposition groups removed Syria's former leader.
Each of the six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were affected or significantly impacted during the civil war.
The Islamic State group demolished multiple temples and historical sites at Palmyra, stating that they were un-Islamic. Unesco condemned the demolition as a violation.
Countless historical objects were also destroyed or taken from archaeological sites and collections.
