🔗 Share this article Valuable Sculptures Removed from Syria's National Museum Located in Damascus The Damascus Museum resumed complete operations in the first month of 2025, a month after the removal of Syria's former leader. Ancient statues and additional items have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, authorities report. The burglary was found on Monday, when employees reportedly found that a doorway had been damaged from the inside. The half-dozen stolen sculptures were made of marble and originated to the Roman era, a source informed the news agency. Cultural heritage officials said it had opened an investigation to determine the "events surrounding the theft of a collection of exhibits", and that steps had been enacted to improve protection and observation methods. The director of internal security in the Damascus region, Security Chief Atkeh, was cited by the government press as declaring that law enforcement were investigating the theft, which he said had focused on several "ancient sculptures and rare collectibles". He added that museum protectors at the facility and additional people were being interrogated. The cultural institution, which was created in the early twentieth century, holds the most important archaeological collection in the country. It includes historical records dating back to the Bronze Age from an ancient city, where proof of the oldest known linguistic system was discovered; Greco-Roman period classical statues from Palmyra, a significant historical locations of the historical period; and a 3rd Century AD religious building that was built at an ancient location. The museum was had to cease operations in 2012, a year after the start of the internal strife. The majority of the holdings was transferred and stored at secure places to ensure their safety. It partially resumed in recent years and completely reopened in early this year, four weeks after insurgents overthrew the Assad regime. Each of the six of nationally recognized sites were affected or partly ruined during the internal struggle. The militant faction destroyed several ancient buildings and other structures at the archaeological site, stating that they were against their beliefs. The cultural organization denounced the destruction as a atrocity. Countless historical objects were also lost or looted from archaeological sites and cultural institutions.