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Historic statues and cultural objects have been taken from Syria's National Museum in the capital, officials say.

The theft was discovered on the start of the week, when employees reportedly found that one of the museum's doors had been damaged from the interior.

The six stolen sculptures were made of marble and originated to the Roman era, an authority informed the news agency.

Cultural heritage officials said it had initiated an inquiry to identify the "details surrounding the loss of a collection of items", and that actions had been implemented to improve security and surveillance.

The director of national security in the Damascus region, General Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the state-run Sana news agency as declaring that security forces were investigating the robbery, which he said had targeted several "archaeological statues and valuable objects".

He noted that guards at the institution and other individuals were being interviewed.

The Damascus Museum, which was established in 1919, holds the significant historical artifacts in the country.

It contains ancient inscribed tablets originating to the 14th Century BC from historical site, where indications of the most ancient writing system was discovered; Greco-Roman period ancient art from historical site, a significant cultural centres of the ancient world; and a third century religious building that was built at another archaeological site.

The museum was compelled to shut in the early 2010s, twelve months after the start of the internal strife. A large portion of the artifacts was evacuated and kept at secure places to protect them.

It began limited operations in recent years and completely reopened in early this year, one month after rebel forces removed Syria's former leader.

Every one of nationally recognized sites were affected or significantly impacted during the conflict.

The militant faction demolished numerous ancient buildings and additional edifices at the ancient city, asserting that they were un-Islamic. The cultural organization denounced the demolition as a atrocity.

Countless historical objects were also damaged or stolen from dig sites and cultural institutions.