Several ancient statues from the Roman era were stolen in a burglary at the national museum in Syria’s capital, officials reported on Tuesday. The theft led to a temporary closure of the National Museum of Damascus once the robbery was discovered early Monday. The museum had recently reopened in January amidst the aftermath of the 14-year civil war and the downfall of the 54-year Assad family regime last year.
The museum, the largest in the country, holds priceless antiquities tracing Syria’s extensive history. Following the onset of the war, security measures were heightened 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 had been taken, with an ongoing investigation underway. Another official revealed that the theft took place on Sunday night and was uncovered early Monday when a broken door was found in the classical department, with several Roman-era statues missing. The exact number of stolen statues was not disclosed by the official, who spoke anonymously in accordance with regulations.
The police chief in Damascus, Brig.-Gen. Osama Atkeh, confirmed that multiple statues and rare artifacts were stolen from the museum. He mentioned that security guards and other individuals were being interrogated in connection with the incident.
The Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums later released a statement announcing the launch of an investigation and immediate measures to safeguard the museum’s antiquities. The statement did not specify the stolen items, only mentioning that “some exhibits” were missing.
The section of the museum 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, former head of the government’s Antiquities and Museums Department.
The museum had reopened on January 8, following the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad by rebels, marking a new chapter for the country. In response to fears of looting, the museum had closed after the rapid offensive that ended five decades of Assad’s family rule.
Amid the conflict in Syria that began in March 2011, authorities had relocated numerous priceless artifacts to Damascus from various regions, including the historic town of Palmyra, previously held by ISIS. In 2015, ISIS militants destroyed mausoleums at Palmyra’s UNESCO World Heritage site, renowned for its ancient Roman colonnades, ruins, and invaluable artifacts.