Ancient Sculptures Removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus
Valuable statues and additional items have been removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, officials say.
The theft was found on Monday, when employees apparently found that one of the museum's doors had been broken from the interior.
The half-dozen missing statues were crafted from marble and originated to the Roman period, an authority stated to the Associated Press.
The nation's antiquities authority said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "details surrounding the theft of a number of exhibits", and that actions had been implemented to strengthen safeguarding and surveillance.
The director of national security in the capital area, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the government press as stating that law enforcement were examining the robbery, which he said had focused on several "historical artifacts and unique items".
He added that guards at the institution and other individuals were being questioned.
The cultural institution, which was created in 1919, holds the significant historical artifacts in Syria.
It features ancient inscribed tablets tracing back to the ancient era from Ugarit, where indications of the earliest linguistic system was found; Greco-Roman period ancient art from historical site, among the foremost historical locations of the classical era; and a ancient religious building that was constructed at Dura Europos.
The institution was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, a year after the outbreak of the devastating civil war. The majority of the holdings was evacuated and preserved at secure places to safeguard them.
It began limited operations in recent years and completely reopened in early this year, one month after opposition groups deposed President Bashar al-Assad.
All six of nationally recognized sites were affected or partly ruined during the civil war.
The IS organization destroyed several ancient buildings and other structures at the ancient city, stating that they were idolatrous. Unesco condemned the damage as a atrocity.
Many artefacts were also damaged or taken from historical locations and museums.
