Historic Statues Removed from the National Museum in Damascus
Ancient sculptures and additional items have been taken from Syria's National Museum in the capital, sources confirm.
The burglary was discovered on Monday, when staff apparently found that one of the museum's doors had been forced from the inside.
The half-dozen stolen pieces were marble creations and traced back to the ancient Roman times, an authority informed the Associated Press.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had opened an investigation to identify the "events surrounding the theft of a number of exhibits", and that steps had been implemented to enhance safeguarding and monitoring systems.
The director of internal security in the capital area, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was cited by the state-run Sana news agency as saying that law enforcement were investigating the theft, which he said had targeted several "ancient sculptures and unique items".
He continued that security personnel at the institution and other individuals were being questioned.
The cultural institution, which was founded in the early twentieth century, houses the significant historical artifacts in Syria.
It contains historical records tracing back to the Bronze Age from Ugarit, where proof of the most ancient linguistic system was discovered; Greco-Roman period classical statues from historical site, among the foremost cultural centres of the classical era; and a ancient synagogue that was established at Dura Europos.
The museum was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, one year after the beginning of the internal strife. Most of the holdings was removed and kept at secure places to ensure their safety.
It partially resumed in recent years and returned to normal in the beginning of the year, a month after insurgents overthrew Syria's former leader.
Each of the six of the country's cultural landmarks were affected or partially destroyed during the conflict.
The militant faction demolished several temples and other structures at the ancient city, claiming that they were un-Islamic. The cultural organization condemned the destruction as a violation.
Countless cultural items were also destroyed or looted from historical locations and cultural institutions.
