Historic Sculptures Removed from the National Museum Located in Damascus

Ancient sculptures and other artefacts have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, sources confirm.

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

The six stolen sculptures were marble creations and traced back to the ancient Roman times, one official stated to the news agency.

Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had opened an investigation to identify the "details surrounding the theft of a number of items", and that actions had been taken to improve protection and observation methods.

The chief of domestic security in Damascus province, Security Chief Atkeh, was quoted by the state-run Sana news agency as stating that law enforcement were examining the incident, which he said had targeted several "archaeological statues and valuable objects".

He noted that security personnel at the institution and other individuals were being questioned.

The National Museum, which was founded in the early twentieth century, houses the most important archaeological collection in the country.

It features historical records originating to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where proof of the oldest known linguistic system was uncovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD ancient art from Palmyra, one of the most important historical locations of the classical era; and a 3rd Century AD Jewish temple that was established at another archaeological site.

The museum was had to cease operations in 2012, a year after the outbreak of the internal strife. The majority of the holdings was evacuated and stored at undisclosed sites to safeguard them.

It partially resumed in 2018 and resumed full operations in January 2025, four weeks after rebel forces deposed Syria's former leader.

All six of nationally recognized sites were harmed or significantly impacted during the conflict.

The Islamic State group demolished several temples and additional edifices at the ancient city, asserting that they were idolatrous. Unesco censured the demolition as a violation.

Many artefacts were also lost or looted from archaeological sites and cultural institutions.