Ancient Statues Taken from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Valuable artifacts and cultural objects have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, authorities report.
The burglary was found on Monday, when staff allegedly found that a doorway had been forced from the interior.
The multiple stolen statues were marble creations and traced back to the Roman period, a source told the news agency.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had opened an investigation to establish the "events surrounding the theft of a group of exhibits", and that actions had been enacted to improve protection and observation methods.
The chief of domestic security in Damascus province, Security Chief Atkeh, was cited by the state-run Sana news agency as saying that security forces were examining the theft, which he said had focused on several "historical artifacts and unique items".
He noted that guards at the institution and additional people were being questioned.
The National Museum, which was established in 1919, contains the significant cultural treasures in the country.
It includes historical records tracing back to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where proof of the oldest known linguistic system was discovered; early centuries CE classical statues from historical site, among the foremost historical locations of the classical era; and a third century religious building that was built at another archaeological site.
The institution was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, one year after the start of the internal strife. A large portion of the holdings was evacuated and preserved at undisclosed sites to safeguard them.
It began limited operations in recent years and completely reopened in early this year, a month after insurgents deposed Syria's former leader.
Every one of nationally recognized sites were damaged or partly ruined during the internal struggle.
The militant faction blew up several ancient buildings and other structures at the archaeological site, claiming that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization condemned the demolition as a atrocity.
Many artefacts were also destroyed or looted from archaeological sites and collections.
