Investigations Launched After Theft at the National Museum of Damascus Targeting the Classical Section
The National Museum of Damascus was subjected yesterday to a theft that targeted its Classical Section, one of the museum’s richest divisions in rare archaeological artifacts, amid official secrecy regarding the details of the incident and the extent of the stolen items.
According to local sources, initial investigations included the questioning and temporary detention of several employees late into the night, along with the review of security camera footage inside and around the museum in an effort to identify the perpetrators and trace the operation’s course.
The Classical Section houses rare and valuable collections of artifacts from successive civilizations in Syria’s history, including Greek, Roman, and Nabatean pieces.
The National Museum of Damascus is considered one of the country’s most prominent cultural institutions. It contains archaeological collections that were transferred from various Syrian provinces at the beginning of the conflict about 14 years ago, with the aim of protecting them from theft or destruction.
As of now, neither the Ministry of Culture nor the Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums has issued any official statement regarding the details of the stolen items or the results of the ongoing investigations.
