The National Museum of Damascus says six Roman‑era marble statues were stolen during a night‑time break‑in, discovered the next morning when staff found a smashed door to the classical antiquities department. The museum, which reopened on Jan. 8 with upgraded security after the fall of the Assad regime, was briefly closed so investigators could examine the scene. ICOM has warned of a growing black market for cultural objects in Syria and rising illegal excavations. Authorities have not yet released details about the missing statues.
Six Roman‑Era Marble Statues Stolen in Overnight Heist at National Museum of Damascus
The National Museum of Damascus says six Roman‑era marble statues were stolen during a night‑time break‑in, discovered the next morning when staff found a smashed door to the classical antiquities department. The museum, which reopened on Jan. 8 with upgraded security after the fall of the Assad regime, was briefly closed so investigators could examine the scene. ICOM has warned of a growing black market for cultural objects in Syria and rising illegal excavations. Authorities have not yet released details about the missing statues.
03:41 AM, 11/12/2025Culture
Six Roman‑Era Marble Statues Stolen in Overnight Break‑In
Thieves forced entry into the National Museum of Damascus on Sunday night, and museum staff discovered the theft the following morning when they found a smashed door to the classical antiquities department and realized six marble Roman‑era statues were missing, officials said.
An official investigation is under way. The museum was temporarily closed so investigators could examine the scene and secure the remaining collections while authorities search for leads.
Reopening and security upgrades
The National Museum had reopened on Jan. 8 after the collapse of the Assad regime the previous month, with upgraded security measures including new surveillance cameras. Although the museum remained open for much of Syria’s civil war, staff say it briefly closed during the regime’s collapse amid widespread looting across Damascus.
“Things happened so fast with the fall of the regime. And that created some chaos,” said Rima Khawan, the museum’s chief curator at the reopening. “Thank God, we did not suffer any serious damage... there was more fear than damage.”
Rising threats to Syria’s cultural heritage
The International Council of Museums (ICOM) warns that a black market for cultural objects has taken root in Syria over the past year. ICOM says treasure‑hunting equipment is widely available, finds from illegal excavations are openly offered for sale on social media, and the production of counterfeit artifacts is increasing.
In June, ICOM urged authorities in Syria and abroad to take decisive action to stem illicit trade in antiquities — a plea made before this latest theft at Damascus.
Syria’s cultural legacy stretches well before the Roman period. The country is home to six UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the ancient city of Palmyra — much of which was damaged or destroyed by Islamic State in 2015 — and Damascus itself, a UNESCO‑listed city estimated to contain roughly 125 monuments spanning some 5,000 years.
The Directorate‑General for Antiquities and Museums warned in January that “Syrian heritage has faced numerous acts of vandalism, destruction, encroachments, theft of archaeological artifacts, and the degradation of archaeological layers at various sites.”
International context
The break‑in at the Damascus museum comes about three weeks after a high‑profile jewel heist at the Louvre in Paris, where thieves fled with pieces valued at more than $100 million. French prosecutors have charged several people but the jewels have not yet been recovered.
Investigators in Damascus have not publicly released details about the stolen statues’ subjects, dimensions, age or condition. TIME has reached out to the National Museum of Damascus, the Directorate‑General for Antiquities and Museums, and local authorities for additional information.
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