🔗 Share this article Valuable Artifacts Removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus The Damascus Museum resumed complete operations in January of 2025, a month after the deposition of the Assad government. Historic sculptures and other artefacts have been stolen from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, authorities report. The theft was noticed on Monday, when museum workers allegedly found that one of the museum's doors had been broken from the inside. The six missing pieces were made of marble and dated back to the Roman era, an authority stated to the news agency. Cultural heritage officials said it had opened an investigation to establish the "circumstances surrounding the theft of a collection of items", and that actions had been taken to strengthen safeguarding and monitoring systems. The director of national security in the Damascus region, General Osama Atkeh, was cited by the government press as stating that security forces were investigating the theft, which he said had focused on several "ancient sculptures and valuable objects". He noted that guards at the museum and additional people were being interrogated. The cultural institution, which was founded in 1919, holds the significant archaeological collection in the country. It includes ancient inscribed tablets dating back to the 14th Century BC from historical site, where proof of the most ancient writing system was discovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD classical statues from Palmyra, one of the most important cultural centres of the classical era; and a ancient Jewish temple that was constructed at another archaeological site. The institution was had to cease operations in 2012, one year after the outbreak of the internal strife. A large portion of the holdings was transferred and preserved at secret locations to protect them. It partially resumed in 2018 and completely reopened in early this year, one month after rebel forces overthrew the Assad regime. Every one of the country's cultural landmarks were damaged or significantly impacted during the civil war. The militant faction destroyed multiple temples and historical sites at the archaeological site, asserting that they were against their beliefs. International authorities condemned the destruction as a war crime. Countless cultural items were also lost or stolen from historical locations and cultural institutions.