Historic Statues Removed from the National Museum in Damascus
Ancient sculptures and cultural objects have been taken from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, officials say.
The robbery was discovered on the start of the week, when staff allegedly found that one of the museum's doors had been broken from the inside.
The multiple taken pieces were crafted from marble and dated back to the Roman period, a source told the Associated Press.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had launched a probe to determine the "circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a collection of items", and that actions had been implemented to improve protection and surveillance.
The director of national security in Damascus province, Security Chief Atkeh, was referenced by the government press as declaring that law enforcement were examining the incident, which he said had focused on several "historical artifacts and rare collectibles".
He added that security personnel at the museum and additional people were being questioned.
The National Museum, which was founded in the early twentieth century, contains the primary historical artifacts in the country.
It includes historical records originating to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where proof of the oldest known complete alphabet was uncovered; early centuries CE ancient art from Palmyra, one of the most important cultural centres of the classical era; and a 3rd Century AD Jewish temple that was constructed at another archaeological site.
The museum was had to cease operations in 2012, a year after the outbreak of the devastating civil war. A large portion of the collection was evacuated and preserved at secret locations to safeguard them.
It partially resumed in recent years and completely reopened in the beginning of the year, one month after insurgents overthrew President Bashar al-Assad.
Every one of nationally recognized sites were harmed or significantly impacted during the civil war.
The IS organization blew up numerous temples and other structures at the archaeological site, asserting that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization denounced the damage as a atrocity.
Countless historical objects were also damaged or stolen from historical locations and cultural institutions.
