Several ancient statues from the Roman era were stolen in a burglary at the national museum in Syria’s capital, as reported by officials on Tuesday. The National Museum of Damascus had to shut down temporarily following the discovery of the theft on Monday. The museum, which reopened in January amidst the aftermath of a 14-year civil war and the end of the 54-year rule of the Assad family, is renowned for its collection of priceless antiquities reflecting Syria’s extensive history.
Security at the museum was heightened with the installation of metal gates and surveillance cameras after the onset of the war. According to an official from Syria’s Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums, six marble statues were taken, and an investigation is currently underway. The theft is said to have occurred on Sunday night and was noticed early the following day when a broken door was found in the classical department, and multiple Roman-era statues were reported missing.
Authorities, speaking anonymously in adherence to regulations, revealed that several statues and rare artifacts were stolen from the museum, with guards and other individuals currently under interrogation. The Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums confirmed that an investigation had been launched to recover the missing exhibits and ensure the security of the museum’s treasures. The museum section where the theft took place is described as a historically significant department housing artifacts dating back to the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods.
In the wake of the incident, the museum has implemented immediate measures to safeguard its antiquities. The museum’s closure during the transitional period after the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad by rebels aimed to prevent potential looting. Following the outbreak of the conflict in 2011, valuable artifacts were relocated from various parts of the country to Damascus, including Palmyra, a UNESCO World Heritage site previously occupied by ISIS, where significant destruction of cultural heritage occurred in 2015.