Ancient Sculptures Removed from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient sculptures and additional items have been taken from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, authorities report.
The burglary was found on Monday, when employees reportedly found that one of the museum's doors had been damaged from the interior.
The half-dozen stolen pieces were crafted from marble and dated back to the ancient Roman times, a source told the media outlet.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had opened an investigation to determine the "circumstances surrounding the theft of a number of artifacts", and that steps had been enacted to enhance safeguarding and surveillance.
The director of national security in the capital area, Security Chief Atkeh, was cited by the government press as declaring that law enforcement were probing the incident, which he said had focused on several "historical artifacts and valuable objects".
He noted that museum protectors at the facility and additional people were being interrogated.
The cultural institution, which was founded in 1919, contains the most important historical artifacts in the country.
It contains clay cuneiform tablets dating back to the 14th Century BC from historical site, where indications of the oldest known writing system was discovered; Greco-Roman period ancient art from historical site, a significant historical locations of the historical period; and a ancient synagogue that was constructed at an ancient location.
The museum was had to cease operations in 2012, a year after the beginning of the devastating civil war. A large portion of the collection was evacuated and stored at secure places to ensure their safety.
It partially resumed in recent years and completely reopened in early this year, four weeks after insurgents removed President Bashar al-Assad.
All six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were harmed or partly ruined during the conflict.
The militant faction blew up multiple religious structures and historical sites at Palmyra, claiming that they were against their beliefs. International authorities censured the demolition as a violation.
Countless artefacts were also lost or looted from historical locations and cultural institutions.
