Key Takeaways
- Six ancient Roman-era marble statues stolen from National Museum of Damascus
- Theft discovered Monday morning after Sunday night break-in
- Museum temporarily closed as investigation continues
- Incident follows recent high-profile Louvre jewel heist
Ancient Roman-era marble statues have been stolen from Syria’s National Museum in Damascus, forcing the facility’s temporary closure. Officials confirmed the audacious theft on Tuesday, marking another blow to the country’s cultural heritage amid ongoing instability.
Museum Security Breached
The theft occurred in the museum’s classical department on Sunday night. Staff discovered the break-in early Monday when they found a broken door and several Roman-era statues missing. Despite enhanced security measures installed after Syria’s civil war began, including metal gates and surveillance cameras, thieves successfully breached the facility.
Two anonymous officials from Syria’s Directorate-General for Antiquities and Museums confirmed the incident. One official specified that six marble statues were taken, while another declined to provide an exact count of stolen items. An investigation is currently underway.
Recent Louvre Connection
The Damascus theft comes weeks after a similar high-profile heist at the Louvre Museum in Paris. Thieves disguised as construction workers stole French Crown Jewels valued at approximately €88 million, which once belonged to monarchs including Napoleon III and his wife Eugenie.
That robbery took less than eight minutes during opening hours and exposed significant security lapses. Investigators later discovered the museum’s video surveillance server was protected by the password “Louvre,” while the cybersecurity software used the vendor name “Thales” as its password.
Multiple suspects have been arrested in connection with the Louvre jewel heist, which was widely seen as a national humiliation for France.
