Several ancient statues dating back to the Roman era were stolen from Syria’s National Museum in Damascus during a break-in Sunday night, officials confirmed Tuesday.
Authorities said six marble sculptures were taken from a section of the museum that contains Roman, Hellenistic and Byzantine artifacts. The theft has raised alarm, as the Roman-era statues stolen were among the museum’s most valuable and historically significant pieces.
Museum staff discovered the break-in early Monday after finding a damaged door in the classical antiquities section. The museum, which houses Syria’s largest collection of artifacts, was closed temporarily as investigators began their work.
Officials with Syria’s Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said the stolen statues were part of a collection preserved during the country’s civil war. The museum had reopened in January after years of conflict and the end of the Assad family’s five-decade rule.
Investigation underway after Roman-era statues stolen
Speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on public comment, two officials confirmed the burglary and said an internal investigation is underway.
Damascus police chief Brig. Gen. Osama Atkeh later told the state news agency SANA that a number of rare items were taken during the incident. He said museum guards and other individuals were being questioned in connection with the case.
🇸🇾⚡️ Robbery at the National Museum of Damascus: statues and historical artifacts stolen
🔺️ An informed source in the Syrian Ministry of the Interior announced that on Monday evening, the National Museum of Damascus was the target of a robbery and several statues and valuable… pic.twitter.com/VouSWcREKv
— Barong (@Barong369) November 11, 2025
On Tuesday, a reporter with the Associated Press was denied entry to the building. Security personnel stated the museum remained closed.
Maamoun Abdulkarim, who previously headed Syria’s antiquities authority, said the targeted section is one of the most culturally rich in the museum, featuring pieces from key historical periods that shaped the region’s identity.
Civil war’s toll on Syria’s cultural legacy
The reopening of the museum came just a month after rebel forces removed President Bashar Assad from power, ending 54 years of family rule. It had been shut down during the final stages of the conflict due to fears of looting.
Since the outbreak of civil war in 2011, Syrian officials had fortified the museum with metal gates and surveillance cameras. Hundreds of artifacts were relocated to Damascus from other parts of the country in an attempt to safeguard the nation’s heritage.
The conflict severely damaged key heritage sites, including the ancient city of Palmyra. In 2015, the Islamic State group destroyed several mausoleums and ancient ruins within Palmyra’s UNESCO-listed archaeological site, which was once famed for its Roman colonnades and historic monuments.
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