Roman-Era Statues Stolen from Damascus Museum

As Syria attempts to recover from its prolonged civil war and oppressive regime, the National Museum of Damascus fell victim to a significant theft. On Monday, November 10, staff discovered that six valuable Roman-era statues were stolen after noticing a breach in the classical department’s door, as reported by the Associated Press. Authorities have commenced an investigation to recover the artifacts.

This incident highlights a disturbing trend of cultural heritage looting, which has escalated following the ousting of former dictator Bashar al-Assad last December. The museum, which had been closed for six years due to the conflict, briefly shut down again in January following Assad’s removal. Alongside the statues, gold ingots with indeterminate origins were also reportedly taken during the heist, as stated by AFP.

The National Museum of Damascus is renowned for its extensive collection of antiquities, representing 11,000 years of Syrian history through prehistoric, Byzantine, and Islamic art.

Adnan Almohamad, a research fellow at Birkbeck College, University of London, studying archaeological looting in Syria, stated that the theft could have been orchestrated by individuals with comprehensive knowledge of the museum’s operations and vulnerabilities. Almohamad notes a resemblance to a 2010 incident where 13 items were taken from another national museum in Deir ez-Zor, with a museum staff member later implicated.

Almohamad emphasized the positive aspect that the stolen items were from the well-documented exhibition hall, which reduces the risk of illicit sale. He warned that if items were taken from overcrowded and disorganized storage areas, recovery would be highly challenging.

The Syrian Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the theft, and the global art community watches closely as the investigation progresses.