🔗 Share this article Ancient Artifacts Removed from the National Museum Located in Damascus The National Museum resumed complete operations in the first month of 2025, four weeks after the removal of the Assad government. Ancient statues and cultural objects have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, authorities report. The theft was found on the start of the week, when employees reportedly found that a doorway had been broken from the interior. The half-dozen taken sculptures were crafted from marble and traced back to the Roman period, one official informed the Associated Press. Cultural heritage officials said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "circumstances surrounding the theft of a collection of artifacts", and that steps had been implemented to enhance protection and surveillance. The head of national security in the Damascus region, Security Chief Atkeh, was referenced by the government press as declaring that authorities were examining the robbery, which he said had targeted several "historical artifacts and rare collectibles". He continued that guards at the museum and other individuals were being interrogated. The cultural institution, which was founded in 1919, contains the most important archaeological collection in Syria. It features historical records originating to the Bronze Age from Ugarit, where proof of the most ancient complete alphabet was found; early centuries CE classical statues from the ancient city, one of the most important cultural centres of the historical period; and a third century religious building that was established at another archaeological site. The facility was forced to close in the early 2010s, one year after the outbreak of the internal strife. The majority of the artifacts was removed and preserved at secure places to safeguard them. It partially resumed in 2018 and completely reopened in early this year, a month after rebel forces removed Syria's former leader. Each of the six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were harmed or significantly impacted during the civil war. The IS organization demolished multiple ancient buildings and other structures at Palmyra, claiming that they were against their beliefs. Unesco condemned the damage as a war crime. Numerous historical objects were also damaged or looted from historical locations and collections.