Syria's National Museum Plundered: Ancient Roman Treasures Vanish

**Ancient Roman Statues Stolen from Damascus National Museum, Raising Concerns Over Security**

Syria's National Museum Plundered: Ancient Roman T...

Damascus, Syria – The National Museum of Damascus, a repository of Syria's rich history, has been targeted by thieves who made off with several ancient Roman-era statues, officials confirmed Tuesday. The brazen heist, discovered early Monday morning, has prompted a temporary closure of the museum and sparked an investigation into security lapses.

According to officials from Syria’s Directorate-General

According to officials from Syria’s Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums, the theft occurred Sunday night. The alarm was raised when a broken door was discovered in the museum's classical department, a section renowned for its artifacts spanning the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods. At least six marble statues are confirmed missing, though the full extent of the loss is still being assessed.

Brig. Gen. Osama Atkeh, the Damascus police chief, told state news agency SANA that the investigation is underway, with museum guards and other individuals being questioned. The museum, which only recently reopened on January 8th after a period of closure, has now been shuttered again, barring access to the public and journalists alike.

The reopening of the museum last month was seen as a symbolic moment, marking a tentative step towards normalcy in a country ravaged by 14 years of civil war and the recent ousting of President Bashar Assad after 54 years of Assad family rule. The museum had been closed as a precautionary measure following the change in power, fearing looting and damage to its invaluable collection.

During the height of the civil

During the height of the civil war, hundreds of artifacts were relocated from across the country to the Damascus museum for safekeeping, and security measures were bolstered with metal gates and surveillance cameras. Despite these efforts, the recent theft highlights the ongoing vulnerability of Syria's cultural heritage in the face of instability and potential internal threats.

Maamoun Abdulkarim, the former head of the government’s antiquities and museums department, described the targeted section as "a beautiful and historically rich department," underscoring the significant loss represented by the stolen statues. The incident raises serious questions about the effectiveness of current security protocols and the potential for further looting in a country still grappling with the aftermath of conflict. The recovery of the stolen artifacts is now a top priority for Syrian authorities, who are working to identify the perpetrators and prevent further damage to the nation's cultural legacy.