Ancient Artifacts Taken from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient artifacts and additional items have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, sources confirm.
The burglary was found on Monday, when museum workers allegedly found that an entrance had been forced from the interior.
The half-dozen taken sculptures were crafted from marble and originated to the Roman era, one official informed the Associated Press.
Cultural heritage officials said it had initiated an inquiry to determine the "events surrounding the loss of a group of items", and that steps had been implemented to improve safeguarding and monitoring systems.
The chief of national security in the capital area, Security Chief Atkeh, was referenced by the state-run Sana news agency as declaring that authorities were probing the incident, which he said had focused on several "archaeological statues and unique items".
He added that guards at the institution and other persons were being interviewed.
The Damascus Museum, which was created in the early twentieth century, houses the most important archaeological collection in Syria.
It features clay cuneiform tablets tracing back to the 14th Century BC from an ancient city, where evidence of the earliest writing system was found; Greco-Roman period ancient art from historical site, a significant ancient sites of the ancient world; and a third century synagogue that was built at Dura Europos.
The museum was had to cease operations in 2012, one year after the outbreak of the devastating civil war. The majority of the holdings was removed and stored at secret locations to ensure their safety.
It partially resumed in recent years and resumed full operations in the beginning of the year, a month after opposition groups overthrew Syria's former leader.
Each of the six of the country's cultural landmarks were harmed or significantly impacted during the internal struggle.
The militant faction blew up several temples and historical sites at Palmyra, stating that they were idolatrous. Unesco censured the destruction as a war crime.
Countless cultural items were also lost or taken from historical locations and collections.
