Valuable Sculptures Taken from the National Museum in Damascus

Museum Facade
The Damascus Museum reopened fully in January of 2025, a month after the removal of the Assad government.

Historic artifacts and other artefacts have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in the capital, officials say.

The robbery was found on Monday, when museum workers reportedly found that one of the museum's doors had been forced from the inside.

The multiple missing sculptures were made of marble and traced back to the Roman era, a source stated to the media outlet.

The nation's antiquities authority said it had opened an investigation to establish the "events surrounding the disappearance of a number of artifacts", and that actions had been taken to strengthen protection and surveillance.

The head of internal security in Damascus province, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was cited by the state-run Sana news agency as stating that security forces were examining the theft, which he said had focused on several "ancient sculptures and unique items".

He added that museum protectors at the institution and other persons were being interviewed.

The Damascus Museum, which was created in the early twentieth century, holds the significant cultural treasures in Syria.

It includes clay cuneiform tablets tracing back to the 14th Century BC from historical site, where evidence of the most ancient linguistic system was uncovered; Greco-Roman period classical statues from Palmyra, a significant ancient sites of the ancient world; and a 3rd Century AD Jewish temple that was established at an ancient location.

The facility was had to cease operations in the early 2010s, twelve months after the outbreak of the internal strife. Most of the artifacts was transferred and preserved at undisclosed sites to protect them.

It reopened partially in 2018 and completely reopened in early this year, one month after insurgents overthrew President Bashar al-Assad.

Each of the six of the country's cultural landmarks were damaged or partly ruined during the conflict.

The militant faction demolished multiple religious structures and historical sites at the ancient city, stating that they were un-Islamic. The cultural organization condemned the demolition as a atrocity.

Countless artefacts were also lost or taken from archaeological sites and collections.

Timothy Phelps
Timothy Phelps

A seasoned digital strategist with over a decade of experience in helping brands optimize their online presence and drive measurable results.

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