🔗 Share this article Valuable Sculptures Removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus The National Museum resumed complete operations in January of 2025, one month after the removal of the Assad government. Ancient sculptures and additional items have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, authorities report. The robbery was discovered on Monday, when museum workers allegedly found that a doorway had been broken from the inside. The half-dozen taken statues were crafted from marble and originated to the ancient Roman times, one official stated to the Associated Press. Cultural heritage officials said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "details surrounding the theft of a group of exhibits", and that measures had been enacted to enhance safeguarding and observation methods. The director of national security in the Damascus region, General Osama Atkeh, was cited by the official media as declaring that law enforcement were examining the incident, which he said had focused on several "archaeological statues and rare collectibles". He continued that guards at the museum and other persons were being interrogated. The Damascus Museum, which was founded in 1919, contains the most important cultural treasures in the country. It features clay cuneiform tablets dating back to the ancient era from an ancient city, where evidence of the earliest linguistic system was discovered; early centuries CE ancient art from historical site, among the foremost cultural centres of the historical period; and a third century religious building that was constructed at Dura Europos. The museum was compelled to shut in 2012, twelve months after the beginning of the internal strife. The majority of the collection was transferred and kept at secret locations to safeguard them. It partially resumed in 2018 and resumed full operations in the beginning of the year, four weeks after opposition groups overthrew President Bashar al-Assad. Every one of nationally recognized sites were affected or partly ruined during the internal struggle. The militant faction demolished several temples and other structures at the ancient city, stating that they were against their beliefs. International authorities censured the damage as a violation. Numerous historical objects were also destroyed or taken from archaeological sites and collections.