🔗 Share this article Valuable Statues Stolen from Syria's National Museum in Damascus The Damascus Museum resumed complete operations in the first month of this year, four weeks after the deposition of the Assad government. Historic statues and additional items have been taken from Syria's National Museum in the capital, sources confirm. The robbery was discovered on Monday, when staff allegedly found that a doorway had been broken from the inside. The six stolen sculptures were crafted from marble and originated to the Roman era, a source informed the Associated Press. The nation's antiquities authority said it had launched a probe to establish the "events surrounding the disappearance of a collection of exhibits", and that steps had been implemented to improve safeguarding and observation methods. The head of national security in the capital area, Security Chief Atkeh, was referenced by the state-run Sana news agency as saying that law enforcement were examining the robbery, which he said had affected several "historical artifacts and valuable objects". He added that security personnel at the institution and additional people were being interrogated. The Damascus Museum, which was created in the early twentieth century, houses the primary historical artifacts in the country. It includes ancient inscribed tablets tracing back to the Bronze Age from Ugarit, where proof of the most ancient complete alphabet was discovered; Greco-Roman period Greco-Roman sculptures from the ancient city, one of the most important cultural centres of the classical era; and a third century Jewish temple that was constructed at an ancient location. The institution was compelled to shut in 2012, twelve months after the outbreak of the destructive conflict. A large portion of the holdings was transferred and preserved at secret locations to ensure their safety. It began limited operations in 2018 and resumed full operations in the beginning of the year, four weeks after rebel forces overthrew the Assad regime. Every one of nationally recognized sites were harmed or partially destroyed during the civil war. The Islamic State group demolished several ancient buildings and additional edifices at Palmyra, claiming that they were idolatrous. International authorities censured the destruction as a violation. Many historical objects were also lost or looted from archaeological sites and cultural institutions.