Historic Sculptures Removed from the National Museum Located in Damascus
Ancient sculptures and other artefacts have been taken from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, officials say.
The burglary was found on Monday, when staff reportedly found that one of the museum's doors had been broken from the interior.
The six stolen pieces were marble creations and traced back to the ancient Roman times, a source stated to the Associated Press.
Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "events surrounding the disappearance of a collection of artifacts", and that measures had been implemented to strengthen security and surveillance.
The director of internal security in Damascus province, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was cited by the state-run Sana news agency as declaring that law enforcement were investigating the incident, which he said had focused on several "archaeological statues and rare collectibles".
He noted that museum protectors at the institution and other individuals were being interrogated.
The National Museum, which was created in the early twentieth century, contains the significant cultural treasures in Syria.
It features clay cuneiform tablets dating back to the 14th Century BC from an ancient city, where evidence of the most ancient writing system was found; 1st and 2nd Century AD Greco-Roman sculptures from Palmyra, a significant cultural centres of the historical period; and a 3rd Century AD synagogue that was established at an ancient location.
The museum was compelled to shut in 2012, a year after the start of the destructive conflict. Most of the artifacts was removed and stored at secret locations to protect them.
It reopened partially in recent years and resumed full operations in the beginning of the year, one month after rebel forces deposed President Bashar al-Assad.
Each of the six of nationally recognized sites were damaged or partially destroyed during the internal struggle.
The IS organization demolished numerous religious structures and historical sites at the archaeological site, stating that they were un-Islamic. Unesco censured the destruction as a atrocity.
Numerous cultural items were also damaged or stolen from dig sites and cultural institutions.
