Ancient Roman Statues Stolen From Damascus National Museum: Syria's Cultural Heritage Under Threat

Thieves infiltrated the National Museum of Damascus and made off with several ancient Roman-era statues, Syrian officials confirmed on Tuesday.

The prestigious museum, located in Syria's capital, was temporarily shuttered after the theft was discovered early Monday morning. Having only reopened in January amid the country's ongoing recovery from a devastating 14-year civil war and the collapse of the Assad dynasty's 54-year rule last year, this incident represents a significant blow to Syria's cultural heritage preservation efforts.

Damascus National Museum, Syria's largest repository of antiquities, houses invaluable artifacts spanning the nation's extensive historical timeline. Following the outbreak of civil war, security measures had been enhanced with the installation of metal gates and surveillance cameras to protect the priceless collections.

An official from Syria's Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums revealed to The Associated Press that six marble statues were stolen, with investigations currently underway to identify the perpetrators and recover the artifacts.

Another official disclosed that the theft occurred Sunday night and was discovered the following morning when staff found a broken door in the classical department and noticed several Roman-era statues missing, though they declined to specify the exact number of stolen pieces.

Both officials spoke anonymously, adhering to regulations as the government has yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.

On Tuesday morning, an Associated Press journalist attempting to visit the museum was turned away by security guards who confirmed the closure but refused to provide any information about the theft.

Maamoun Abdulkarim, former head of the government's antiquities and museums department, described the affected section as "a beautiful and historically-rich department with artifacts dating back to the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods," highlighting the cultural significance of the stolen items.

The museum had only recently reopened on January 8, just one month after rebels deposed President Bashar Assad, ending five decades of his family's rule and marking a new chapter in Syria's history. Concerns about potential looting had initially prompted the museum's closure following the swift offensive that toppled the Assad regime.

Since the beginning of Syria's conflict in March 2011, authorities had taken precautionary measures by relocating hundreds of priceless artifacts to Damascus from various regions across the country, including the historic town of Palmyra, which was temporarily controlled by Islamic State militants.

In 2015, IS members destroyed mausoleums in Palmyra's UNESCO World Heritage site, famous for its 2,000-year-old Roman colonnades and other ancient ruins and artifacts, demonstrating the ongoing threats to Syria's cultural heritage during times of conflict.