Historic Sculptures Taken from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Historic statues and other artefacts have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, authorities report.
The theft was noticed on Monday, when museum workers allegedly found that an entrance had been damaged from the interior.
The multiple taken statues were crafted from marble and dated back to the ancient Roman times, a source told the media outlet.
Cultural heritage officials said it had opened an investigation to identify the "events surrounding the theft of a collection of items", and that measures had been taken to enhance protection and surveillance.
The chief of domestic security in the capital area, General Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the official media as declaring that authorities were examining the incident, which he said had affected several "historical artifacts and unique items".
He continued that museum protectors at the museum and other individuals were being interviewed.
The National Museum, which was established in the early twentieth century, holds the primary historical artifacts in the country.
It features historical records tracing back to the ancient era from historical site, where indications of the earliest writing system was uncovered; Greco-Roman period classical statues from historical site, a significant historical locations of the historical period; and a third century Jewish temple that was built at another archaeological site.
The institution was compelled to shut in 2012, twelve months after the beginning of the devastating civil war. The majority of the artifacts was transferred and kept at undisclosed sites to safeguard them.
It began limited operations in 2018 and resumed full operations in the beginning of the year, a month after insurgents removed President Bashar al-Assad.
Each of the six of nationally recognized sites were affected or significantly impacted during the internal struggle.
The IS organization blew up numerous ancient buildings and historical sites at Palmyra, stating that they were against their beliefs. Unesco denounced the destruction as a atrocity.
Numerous historical objects were also damaged or stolen from dig sites and cultural institutions.
