🔗 Share this article Valuable Sculptures Stolen from Syria's National Museum in Damascus The National Museum reopened fully in the first month of 2025, four weeks after the overthrow of Syria's former leader. Ancient statues and other artefacts have been removed from the National Museum of Syria in Damascus, authorities report. The burglary was found on Monday, when staff apparently found that an entrance had been damaged from the inside. The half-dozen taken pieces were crafted from marble and dated back to the Roman period, an authority informed the Associated Press. Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had opened an investigation to establish the "events surrounding the loss of a number of artifacts", and that measures had been implemented to enhance safeguarding and monitoring systems. The head of national security in the capital area, Brig-Gen Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the official media as stating that authorities were probing the incident, which he said had targeted several "ancient sculptures and unique items". He added that museum protectors at the institution and other individuals were being interrogated. The Damascus Museum, which was founded in 1919, houses the significant archaeological collection in Syria. It contains ancient inscribed tablets dating back to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where proof of the oldest known writing system was discovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD Greco-Roman sculptures from the ancient city, one of the most important historical locations of the classical era; and a ancient Jewish temple that was built at an ancient location. The museum was had to cease operations in 2012, twelve months after the start of the destructive conflict. A large portion of the artifacts was evacuated and stored at secure places to ensure their safety. It partially resumed in recent years and completely reopened in January 2025, four weeks after opposition groups overthrew Syria's former leader. Every one of the country's cultural landmarks were damaged or partially destroyed during the conflict. The Islamic State group blew up multiple ancient buildings and additional edifices at the ancient city, asserting that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization censured the destruction as a war crime. Many artefacts were also lost or looted from dig sites and museums.