🔗 Share this article Valuable Artifacts Removed from Syria's National Museum in Damascus The National Museum reopened fully in January of 2025, one month after the removal of Syria's former leader. Ancient artifacts and other artefacts have been taken from the National Museum of Syria in the capital, officials say. The robbery was discovered on Monday, when museum workers reportedly found that one of the museum's doors had been forced from the inside. The half-dozen stolen statues were crafted from marble and originated to the Roman era, an authority informed the media outlet. Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "events surrounding the theft of a collection of artifacts", and that actions had been enacted to strengthen security and monitoring systems. The chief of national security in the Damascus region, Security Chief Atkeh, was referenced by the official media as stating that authorities were investigating the theft, which he said had targeted several "historical artifacts and valuable objects". He added that guards at the museum and additional people were being interviewed. The Damascus Museum, which was established in 1919, holds the primary cultural treasures in Syria. It contains historical records originating to the Bronze Age from an ancient city, where evidence of the earliest linguistic system was found; 1st and 2nd Century AD ancient art from historical site, one of the most important ancient sites of the classical era; and a ancient synagogue that was constructed at an ancient location. The museum was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, one year after the start of the destructive conflict. Most of the holdings was removed and preserved at secure places to safeguard them. It partially resumed in recent years and resumed full operations in early this year, four weeks after rebel forces overthrew the Assad regime. Each of the six of the country's cultural landmarks were affected or significantly impacted during the internal struggle. The militant faction blew up numerous temples and additional edifices at Palmyra, claiming that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization condemned the demolition as a atrocity. Many artefacts were also lost or taken from dig sites and collections.