Ancient Statues Removed from the National Museum Located in Damascus

Valuable artifacts and cultural objects have been taken from Syria's National Museum in the capital, authorities report.

The robbery was found on the start of the week, when museum workers reportedly found that a doorway had been damaged from the inside.

The half-dozen missing pieces were marble creations and dated back to the Roman period, one official told the Associated Press.

Cultural heritage officials said it had launched a probe to establish the "details surrounding the disappearance of a collection of items", and that steps had been enacted to improve security and surveillance.

The chief of internal security in the capital area, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was cited by the state-run Sana news agency as declaring that law enforcement were probing the theft, which he said had focused on several "archaeological statues and rare collectibles".

He added that guards at the museum and additional people were being questioned.

The Damascus Museum, which was established in the early twentieth century, contains the most important archaeological collection in the country.

It features ancient inscribed tablets dating back to the Bronze Age from Ugarit, where proof of the most ancient writing system was uncovered; early centuries CE classical statues from Palmyra, one of the most important cultural centres of the classical era; and a 3rd Century AD synagogue that was built at an ancient location.

The museum was compelled to shut in 2012, one year after the beginning of the devastating civil war. A large portion of the collection was removed and preserved at undisclosed sites to ensure their safety.

It partially resumed in 2018 and returned to normal in January 2025, a month after insurgents deposed the Assad regime.

All six of nationally recognized sites were affected or partially destroyed during the internal struggle.

The militant faction blew up several ancient buildings and other structures at the ancient city, claiming that they were against their beliefs. Unesco condemned the damage as a atrocity.

Many artefacts were also destroyed or looted from dig sites and museums.