Several ancient statues from the Roman era were stolen during a burglary at the national museum in Syria’s capital, officials confirmed on Tuesday. The heist, which occurred on Sunday night and was discovered early Monday, resulted in the theft of six marble statues from the National Museum of Damascus.
Following the discovery of the theft, the museum, which reopened in January amid the aftermath of a 14-year civil war and the end of the 54-year Assad family rule, was temporarily closed. The museum, known for housing priceless antiquities representing Syria’s extensive history, had enhanced security measures in place such as metal gates and surveillance cameras since the start of the conflict.
An official from Syria’s Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums reported the theft and mentioned that an investigation is currently underway. Another official revealed that the burglary was detected when a broken door was found in the classical department, leading to the disappearance of several Roman-era statues. The exact number of stolen artifacts was not disclosed by the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to government regulations.
Brig.-Gen. Osama Atkeh, the police chief in Damascus, informed state news agency SANA that statues and rare collectibles were among the stolen items from the museum. He mentioned that individuals, including guards, were being interrogated in connection with the theft. The Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums later issued a statement confirming the launch of an investigation and immediate measures to secure the museum’s antiquities, without specifying the exact items stolen, only mentioning that “some exhibits” had gone missing.
The section of the museum where the stolen statues were housed is described as historically rich, featuring artifacts dating back to the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods, according to Maamoun Abdulkarim, former head of the government’s Antiquities and Museums Department. The museum had reopened on Jan. 8, following the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad by rebels, marking a new chapter for the country after years of conflict. To protect the artifacts from potential looting, the museum had closed during the rapid political changes that led to the end of Assad’s family rule.
During the Syrian conflict that began in 2011, significant artifacts were relocated to Damascus from various parts of the country, including Palmyra, a historic town previously controlled by ISIS. In 2015, ISIS militants destroyed mausoleums in Palmyra’s UNESCO World Heritage site, known for its ancient Roman structures, ruins, and valuable artifacts.