Several ancient statues from the Roman era were stolen during a burglary at the national museum in Syria’s capital city, officials confirmed on Tuesday.
The National Museum of Damascus was temporarily shut down after the theft was discovered early on Monday. The museum had recently reopened amid the aftermath of a 14-year civil war and the downfall of the 54-year Assad family regime last year.
This museum, which is the largest in the country, showcases priceless artifacts reflecting Syria’s extensive history. Following the onset of the war, security measures were enhanced with the installation of metal gates and surveillance cameras.
An official from Syria’s Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums disclosed to The Associated Press that six marble statues were taken, and an investigation is currently underway.
The theft is believed to have occurred on Sunday night and was detected early on Monday when one of the doors in the classical department was found broken, and several Roman-era statues were missing. The exact number of stolen items was not disclosed by the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in compliance with government regulations.
The police chief in Damascus, Brig.-Gen. Osama Atkeh, later reported to state news agency SANA that a number of statues and rare collectibles had been stolen from the museum. He mentioned that guards and other individuals were being interrogated in connection with the incident.
An attempt by an AP journalist to access the museum was met with a restriction on photography by the guards on Tuesday.
The Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums released a statement later in the day, announcing the launch of an investigation and immediate measures to safeguard the museum’s antiquities. The statement did not specify the stolen items but mentioned that “some exhibits” had gone missing.
The museum section where the theft occurred is described as “a beautiful and historically rich department, with artifacts dating back to the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods,” according to Maamoun Abdulkarim, the former head of the government’s Antiquities and Museums Department.
After rebels ousted President Bashar al-Assad, the museum had reopened on January 8, marking a new chapter for the country. Concerned about potential looting, the museum had closed following the swift rebel offensive that ended the Assad family’s five-decade rule.
In response to the conflict that began in March 2011, hundreds of valuable artifacts were relocated to Damascus from various regions of Syria, including the historic town of Palmyra, previously under ISIS control.
In 2015, ISIS militants destroyed mausoleums at Palmyra’s UNESCO World Heritage site, known for its ancient Roman colonnades, ruins, and irreplaceable artifacts.