Historic Artifacts Taken from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic artifacts and cultural objects have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, authorities report.
The robbery was discovered on the start of the week, when employees allegedly found that one of the museum's doors had been damaged from the interior.
The half-dozen stolen sculptures were crafted from marble and dated back to the Roman period, a source stated to the news agency.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had initiated an inquiry to identify the "events surrounding the loss of a group of artifacts", and that steps had been implemented to improve protection and observation methods.
The head of national security in the capital area, General Osama Atkeh, was cited by the state-run Sana news agency as declaring that law enforcement were examining the theft, which he said had targeted several "archaeological statues and rare collectibles".
He added that guards at the institution and additional people were being interrogated.
The cultural institution, which was established in the early twentieth century, houses the significant historical artifacts in the country.
It contains clay cuneiform tablets tracing back to the ancient era from historical site, where proof of the earliest complete alphabet was uncovered; Greco-Roman period classical statues from Palmyra, among the foremost historical locations of the classical era; and a ancient Jewish temple that was established at Dura Europos.
The museum was compelled to shut in 2012, a year after the beginning of the destructive conflict. The majority of the collection was removed and kept at secret locations to protect them.
It reopened partially in recent years and returned to normal in early this year, four weeks after rebel forces removed President Bashar al-Assad.
Each of the six of nationally recognized sites were damaged or partially destroyed during the internal struggle.
The militant faction destroyed numerous temples and historical sites at the archaeological site, claiming that they were against their beliefs. The cultural organization condemned the destruction as a war crime.
Numerous artefacts were also destroyed or looted from dig sites and museums.
