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Historic sculptures and other artefacts have been taken from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, officials say.

The burglary was discovered on the start of the week, when staff allegedly found that an entrance had been broken from the inside.

The multiple missing statues were made of marble and originated to the Roman period, an authority stated to the Associated Press.

Cultural heritage officials said it had initiated an inquiry to establish the "details surrounding the disappearance of a group of exhibits", and that measures had been implemented to improve security and observation methods.

The chief of national security in the capital area, Security Chief Atkeh, was referenced by the government press as stating that authorities were investigating the robbery, which he said had targeted several "historical artifacts and unique items".

He continued that museum protectors at the institution and additional people were being questioned.

The cultural institution, which was established in the early twentieth century, contains the primary historical artifacts in the country.

It includes clay cuneiform tablets originating to the 14th Century BC from an ancient city, where evidence of the oldest known complete alphabet was discovered; early centuries CE ancient art from Palmyra, one of the most important historical locations of the classical era; and a third century religious building that was built at another archaeological site.

The institution was forced to close in the early 2010s, one year after the outbreak of the internal strife. A large portion of the artifacts was evacuated and preserved at secure places to protect them.

It reopened partially in 2018 and completely reopened in early this year, a month after rebel forces deposed President Bashar al-Assad.

Each of the six of nationally recognized sites were harmed or partially destroyed during the conflict.

The Islamic State group destroyed multiple religious structures and additional edifices at Palmyra, claiming that they were against their beliefs. The cultural organization censured the damage as a atrocity.

Many cultural items were also destroyed or looted from historical locations and cultural institutions.