Historic Sculptures Taken from the National Museum in Damascus

Historic artifacts and additional items have been taken from Syria's National Museum in the capital, authorities report.

The burglary was discovered on the start of the week, when museum workers allegedly found that one of the museum's doors had been damaged from the interior.

The half-dozen missing sculptures were crafted from marble and traced back to the Roman period, one official informed the Associated Press.

The nation's antiquities authority said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a group of artifacts", and that steps had been implemented to strengthen security and observation methods.

The head of internal security in the Damascus region, Security Chief Atkeh, was quoted by the state-run Sana news agency as saying that security forces were investigating the incident, which he said had affected several "ancient sculptures and unique items".

He continued that guards at the museum and other persons were being interrogated.

The National Museum, which was created in the early twentieth century, holds the primary cultural treasures in Syria.

It features historical records originating to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where proof of the most ancient complete alphabet was uncovered; 1st and 2nd Century AD Greco-Roman sculptures from historical site, a significant historical locations of the classical era; and a 3rd Century AD religious building that was built at an ancient location.

The facility was compelled to shut in 2012, a year after the beginning of the devastating civil war. A large portion of the artifacts was transferred and stored at secure places to safeguard them.

It reopened partially in 2018 and returned to normal in the beginning of the year, four weeks after insurgents overthrew the Assad regime.

Each of the six of Syria's Unesco World Heritage sites were harmed or partially destroyed during the civil war.

The IS organization destroyed several temples and other structures at Palmyra, asserting that they were against their beliefs. Unesco denounced the demolition as a violation.

Many historical objects were also lost or taken from archaeological sites and museums.