Ancient Statues Stolen from the National Museum in Damascus
Ancient artifacts and additional items have been taken from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, sources confirm.
The robbery was noticed on Monday, when museum workers reportedly found that one of the museum's doors had been damaged from the inside.
The six taken sculptures were marble creations and originated to the ancient Roman times, a source stated to the media outlet.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had launched a probe to determine the "details surrounding the loss of a group of items", and that actions had been taken to enhance safeguarding and monitoring systems.
The chief of national security in the Damascus region, Security Chief Atkeh, was cited by the official media as saying that law enforcement were investigating the theft, which he said had targeted several "archaeological statues and valuable objects".
He continued that security personnel at the institution and other individuals were being interviewed.
The National Museum, which was established in the early twentieth century, contains the most important archaeological collection in Syria.
It includes historical records tracing back to the 14th Century BC from historical site, where indications of the oldest known writing system was discovered; early centuries CE classical statues from the ancient city, one of the most important historical locations of the classical era; and a ancient synagogue that was established at an ancient location.
The institution was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, one year after the start of the destructive conflict. The majority of the artifacts was removed and kept at secure places to protect them.
It partially resumed in 2018 and returned to normal in early this year, a month after rebel forces overthrew Syria's former leader.
Every one of nationally recognized sites were affected or partially destroyed during the conflict.
The militant faction demolished several temples and historical sites at the archaeological site, stating that they were un-Islamic. International authorities censured the demolition as a violation.
Many artefacts were also damaged or looted from archaeological sites and cultural institutions.
