🔗 Share this article Historic Artifacts Stolen from the National Museum in Damascus The National Museum reopened fully in January of 2025, four weeks after the deposition of Syria's former leader. Valuable sculptures and additional items have been taken from Syria's National Museum in the capital, authorities report. The robbery was noticed on the start of the week, when staff reportedly found that an entrance had been broken from the inside. The half-dozen taken statues were made of marble and dated back to the Roman period, one official informed the media outlet. The nation's antiquities authority said it had opened an investigation to identify the "details surrounding the disappearance of a collection of artifacts", and that steps had been enacted to improve safeguarding and observation methods. The head of internal security in Damascus province, General Osama Atkeh, was referenced by the official media as stating that authorities were investigating the theft, which he said had affected several "historical artifacts and unique items". He noted that guards at the institution and other persons were being questioned. The National Museum, which was created in the early twentieth century, houses the primary archaeological collection in Syria. It features clay cuneiform tablets originating to the ancient era from Ugarit, where indications of the most ancient writing system was found; Greco-Roman period classical statues from the ancient city, among the foremost historical locations of the ancient world; and a third century synagogue that was established at an ancient location. The museum was had to cease operations in 2012, one year after the start of the internal strife. The majority of the holdings was removed and kept at secure places to safeguard them. It reopened partially in recent years and completely reopened in January 2025, one month after rebel forces removed the Assad regime. Every one of nationally recognized sites were harmed or significantly impacted during the internal struggle. The IS organization blew up several ancient buildings and additional edifices at the ancient city, asserting that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization condemned the damage as a violation. Numerous historical objects were also damaged or taken from dig sites and collections.