Trendpills
Thieves have broken into the National Museum in Damascus, stealing several ancient Roman-era statues in a significant breach that highlights the growing vulnerability of Syria’s cultural heritage. The country's new Culture Minister, Asaad al-Ahmad, announced the theft on Tuesday, November 11, confirming that an investigation is underway.
The stolen artifacts are small funerary statues originating from the southern province of Sweida, dating back to the Roman period. Described by the minister as "invaluable," the statues represent a major loss from the nation's collection. The break-in is the most prominent theft from a major state institution since the collapse of President Bashar Assad's government in December 2024, which created a security vacuum across the country.
This incident is part of a much larger crisis involving the widespread looting of Syria's historical sites, which has intensified in the chaotic aftermath of the regime's change. Experts have documented a dramatic spike in antiquities trafficking, with looters targeting archaeological sites, ancient graves, and historical ruins. According to the Antiquities Trafficking and Heritage Anthropology Research Project (ATHAR), about a third of all documented smuggling cases since 2012 have occurred in the months following the government's fall.
The previous security apparatus's disappearance has created fertile ground for traffickers. As analysts note, the collapse of state control has fueled a black market where stolen artifacts are often sold via social media to international collectors. The National Museum itself had only reopened in January after being temporarily shut down over fears of such looting. This theft underscores the immense challenge the transitional government faces in securing thousands of locations, leaving Syria’s cultural heritage facing a looming threat amid ongoing nationwide instability.
