An unsettling discovery was made early Monday morning at the National Museum of Damascus. Officials confirmed on Tuesday that thieves had breached the museum in the Syrian capital.
Several ancient marble statues, dating back to the Roman era, were stolen from the national institution.
The museum, which is Syria’s largest repository of cultural treasures, immediately ceased operations. What drives this persistent appetite for stolen history, even after the guns of war have supposedly quieted?
The Heist and the Missing Pieces
The museum holds a massive collection of priceless artifacts. These treasures trace Syria’s long and complex history. Security had been enhanced following the onset of the 14-year civil conflict. Measures included installing metal gates and surveillance equipment.
An official from the national antiquities department confirmed that six marble statues were missing. An investigation is currently ongoing. A separate official indicated the robbery occurred late Sunday night.
Staff raised the alarm early Monday when they found a door in the classical department forcefully broken. Numerous statues from the Roman period were gone.
Both officials requested anonymity. This was because the government has not yet issued a formal public statement. Security personnel at the entrance confirmed the facility was closed to a journalist on Tuesday. They refused to answer questions about the theft.
A History Still Under Siege
The artifacts are vital to the region’s heritage. The classical department, where the theft happened, is renowned for its historical depth. Maamoun Abdulkarim, the former head of the antiquities and museums department, noted the area held treasures spanning the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods.
The institution itself has a complicated recent history. It only reopened last January. That reopening took place one month after rebel forces ousted President Bashar Assad.
The ousting ended the Assad family’s 54-year rule. The museum initially shut down during the swift offensive due to fears of looting.
During the conflict, authorities moved hundreds of priceless artifacts to Damascus for safekeeping. These included treasures from the historic central town of Palmyra.
Palmyra suffered devastating attacks in 2015 when members of the Islamic State group destroyed ancient mausoleums at the UNESCO World Heritage site. Palmyra is famous for its 2,000-year-old Roman ruins.
As the nation attempts to find peace, how is it possible that its history remains a target? This latest theft raises painful questions about the continued illicit trade of ancient artifacts. It highlights the deep-seated vulnerability of cultural heritage in regions emerging from decades of turmoil.
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