Historic Artifacts Taken from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient statues and cultural objects have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, officials say.
The theft was discovered on the start of the week, when staff allegedly found that a doorway had been broken from the interior.
The six taken pieces were crafted from marble and originated to the ancient Roman times, one official stated to the news agency.
Cultural heritage officials said it had opened an investigation to identify the "details surrounding the disappearance of a group of exhibits", and that steps had been taken to enhance safeguarding and observation methods.
The chief of domestic security in the capital area, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the government press as declaring that security forces were examining the incident, which he said had affected several "historical artifacts and valuable objects".
He continued that guards at the museum and other persons were being interviewed.
The National Museum, which was created in the early twentieth century, houses the primary cultural treasures in the country.
It features historical records dating back to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where indications of the oldest known linguistic system was found; 1st and 2nd Century AD ancient art from historical site, a significant ancient sites of the classical era; and a third century religious building that was built at another archaeological site.
The facility was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, one year after the beginning of the devastating civil war. A large portion of the artifacts was removed and preserved at undisclosed sites to safeguard them.
It partially resumed in 2018 and returned to normal in the beginning of the year, one month after opposition groups overthrew the Assad regime.
Each of the six of the country's cultural landmarks were damaged or partly ruined during the internal struggle.
The Islamic State group demolished multiple temples and other structures at the ancient city, stating that they were un-Islamic. Unesco condemned the destruction as a atrocity.
Numerous historical objects were also lost or taken from historical locations and cultural institutions.
