🔗 Share this article

Ancient sculptures and additional items have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, officials say.

The theft was discovered on the start of the week, when staff allegedly found that one of the museum's doors had been broken from the interior.

The six stolen pieces were made of marble and originated to the ancient Roman times, a source told the media outlet.

Cultural heritage officials said it had launched a probe to establish the "details surrounding the disappearance of a group of exhibits", and that steps had been implemented to strengthen safeguarding and observation methods.

The chief of internal security in Damascus province, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was cited by the government press as declaring that security forces were examining the robbery, which he said had focused on several "historical artifacts and rare collectibles".

He noted that guards at the institution and other persons were being interviewed.

The cultural institution, which was founded in the early twentieth century, holds the most important archaeological collection in the country.

It features ancient inscribed tablets originating to the 14th Century BC from an ancient city, where evidence of the oldest known writing system was discovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD Greco-Roman sculptures from Palmyra, among the foremost cultural centres of the historical period; and a 3rd Century AD Jewish temple that was established at Dura Europos.

The museum was forced to close in the early 2010s, a year after the outbreak of the destructive conflict. A large portion of the holdings was evacuated and preserved at undisclosed sites to safeguard them.

It reopened partially in 2018 and resumed full operations in the beginning of the year, a month after rebel forces overthrew Syria's former leader.

Each of the six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were damaged or significantly impacted during the civil war.

The IS organization blew up several temples and additional edifices at Palmyra, stating that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization condemned the demolition as a violation.

Countless historical objects were also lost or taken from dig sites and museums.