Investigators believe that the theft of several ancient statues dating back to the Roman era from Syria’s national museum was likely the work of an individual, not an organized gang, officials said on Wednesday.
The National Museum of Damascus was closed after the heist was discovered early on Monday. The museum had reopened in January as the country recovers from a 14-year civil war and the fall of the 54-year al-Assad dynasty last year.
On Wednesday, a security vehicle was parked outside the main gate of the museum in central Damascus while security guards stood nearby. People were not allowed in because of the ongoing investigation.
Photo: AP
Two officials from the Syrian Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said that progress has been made in the investigation and that results are expected soon.
They spoke on condition of anonymity, because they were not allowed to speak about the details of the investigation to the media.
“God willing we will reach good results,” one of the officials said.
The country’s largest museum houses priceless antiquities. After the civil war started in March 2011, security was improved with metal gates and surveillance cameras, and authorities moved hundreds of artifacts to Damascus from across the country.
The Syrian Ministry of Culture in a statement on Wednesday released drawings of the six missing statues representing the Roman goddess Venus.
The ministry posted the registration number at the museum of each of the statues of the goddess of love, as well as their height, of which the highest is 40cm.
The statement urged that whoever has information about the statues come forward and contact the ministry through a telephone number or e-mail address that were provided.
The theft angered Damascus residents, who said that such acts tarnish the image of Syria as the country tries to rebuild from a war that left about 500,000 people dead.
“This is not only an aggression on the Syrian state, but an aggression on Syrian civilization,” resident Waddah Khalifeh said when asked about the theft.
He expressed fears that the thieves might aim to smuggle the statues and sell them abroad.
On Tuesday, the Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums said that the theft did not affect activities at the museum and that the public was visiting the facility as usual.
However, a journalist who tried to enter the museum on Wednesday was told that all sections, including those that are outdoors, were closed because of the investigation.
The museum reopened on Jan. 8, a month after rebels ousted Bashar al-Assad as Syrian president, ushering in a new era for the country.
Fearful of looting, the museum had briefly closed after a rebel offensive ended five decades of al-Assad family rule.
The years of conflict had badly affected areas including the historic central town of Palmyra, once held by the Islamic State group.
In 2015, Islamic State members destroyed mausoleums in Palmyra’s UNESCO World Heritage site, which is famous for its 2,000-year-old Roman colonnades, other ruins and priceless artifacts.
“I hope that these pieces will be returned, because this is good for the new Syria,” said another resident, Hussein Abu al-Kheir, referring to post-al-Assad Syria.
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