Valuable Artifacts Taken from the National Museum in Damascus
Historic sculptures and additional items have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, sources confirm.
The burglary was discovered on Monday, when museum workers allegedly found that a doorway had been forced from the inside.
The six missing pieces were marble creations and originated to the ancient Roman times, an authority informed the media outlet.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had launched a probe to establish the "events surrounding the disappearance of a group of items", and that measures had been taken to strengthen protection and surveillance.
The director of national security in the Damascus region, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the state-run Sana news agency as stating that authorities were probing the robbery, which he said had affected several "historical artifacts and unique items".
He continued that museum protectors at the museum and additional people were being questioned.
The National Museum, which was created in 1919, contains the significant cultural treasures in the country.
It contains clay cuneiform tablets tracing back to the ancient era from historical site, where proof of the most ancient complete alphabet was found; early centuries CE Greco-Roman sculptures from the ancient city, one of the most important cultural centres of the classical era; and a 3rd Century AD religious building that was constructed at an ancient location.
The museum was compelled to shut in 2012, a year after the beginning of the devastating civil war. The majority of the artifacts was transferred and preserved at undisclosed sites to protect them.
It partially resumed in 2018 and returned to normal in the beginning of the year, four weeks after rebel forces removed Syria's former leader.
All six of nationally recognized sites were damaged or significantly impacted during the internal struggle.
The militant faction demolished numerous religious structures and additional edifices at the ancient city, asserting that they were un-Islamic. Unesco denounced the destruction as a war crime.
Countless cultural items were also destroyed or looted from archaeological sites and museums.
