🔗 Share this article

Ancient statues and other artefacts have been taken from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, authorities report.

The burglary was discovered on Monday, when staff apparently found that an entrance had been damaged from the inside.

The half-dozen taken pieces were marble creations and dated back to the Roman era, one official stated to the news agency.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had opened an investigation to determine the "events surrounding the disappearance of a number of artifacts", and that actions had been taken to strengthen security and observation methods.

The chief of domestic security in the Damascus region, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was cited by the government press as stating that authorities were examining the theft, which he said had targeted several "ancient sculptures and unique items".

He continued that guards at the facility and other individuals were being questioned.

The cultural institution, which was established in the early twentieth century, contains the significant historical artifacts in the country.

It contains clay cuneiform tablets tracing back to the ancient era from Ugarit, where indications of the most ancient linguistic system was found; early centuries CE ancient art from historical site, one of the most important cultural centres of the classical era; and a ancient religious building that was built at another archaeological site.

The institution was forced to close in the early 2010s, twelve months after the beginning of the devastating civil war. Most of the artifacts was evacuated and preserved at secret locations to ensure their safety.

It reopened partially in recent years and returned to normal in early this year, four weeks after rebel forces overthrew Syria's former leader.

Each of the six of nationally recognized sites were affected or partly ruined during the internal struggle.

The IS organization destroyed multiple religious structures and additional edifices at the ancient city, stating that they were un-Islamic. International authorities denounced the destruction as a atrocity.

Many artefacts were also lost or taken from dig sites and museums.