Ancient Sculptures Stolen from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Valuable sculptures and other artefacts have been taken from Syria's National Museum in the capital, authorities report.
The theft was noticed on the start of the week, when employees apparently found that a doorway had been damaged from the inside.
The half-dozen missing pieces were made of marble and originated to the Roman era, an authority informed the Associated Press.
Cultural heritage officials said it had opened an investigation to establish the "circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a group of exhibits", and that measures had been enacted to strengthen security and monitoring systems.
The director of internal security in Damascus province, Security Chief Atkeh, was referenced by the official media as stating that law enforcement were investigating the robbery, which he said had targeted several "historical artifacts and rare collectibles".
He continued that security personnel at the institution and other persons were being interviewed.
The National Museum, which was established in the early twentieth century, houses the significant archaeological collection in the country.
It includes clay cuneiform tablets tracing back to the Bronze Age from Ugarit, where evidence of the earliest complete alphabet was discovered; early centuries CE ancient art from Palmyra, among the foremost ancient sites of the ancient world; and a 3rd Century AD Jewish temple that was built at another archaeological site.
The facility was forced to close in 2012, twelve months after the start of the internal strife. A large portion of the holdings was removed and kept at undisclosed sites to safeguard them.
It reopened partially in recent years and completely reopened in early this year, one month after rebel forces overthrew the Assad regime.
Every one of the country's cultural landmarks were affected or partly ruined during the conflict.
The Islamic State group blew up several temples and historical sites at the archaeological site, stating that they were idolatrous. International authorities condemned the damage as a violation.
Numerous cultural items were also destroyed or looted from historical locations and museums.
