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Historic statues and cultural objects have been stolen from Syria's National Museum in Damascus, officials say.

The robbery was found on the start of the week, when staff allegedly found that one of the museum's doors had been damaged from the interior.

The six stolen sculptures were made of marble and dated back to the ancient Roman times, a source told the Associated Press.

The nation's antiquities authority said it had initiated an inquiry to determine the "events surrounding the disappearance of a collection of artifacts", and that measures had been enacted to enhance security and observation methods.

The director of internal security in the Damascus region, General Osama Atkeh, was cited by the state-run Sana news agency as declaring that authorities were examining the incident, which he said had targeted several "archaeological statues and unique items".

He continued that security personnel at the institution and other persons were being interviewed.

The Damascus Museum, which was created in 1919, houses the primary cultural treasures in Syria.

It contains ancient inscribed tablets originating to the 14th Century BC from Ugarit, where evidence of the most ancient writing system was found; Greco-Roman period ancient art from the ancient city, one of the most important historical locations of the ancient world; and a ancient religious building that was established at an ancient location.

The museum was compelled to shut in 2012, one year after the beginning of the devastating civil war. A large portion of the collection was evacuated and preserved at secure places to ensure their safety.

It reopened partially in 2018 and resumed full operations in the beginning of the year, four weeks after rebel forces overthrew President Bashar al-Assad.

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

The Islamic State group demolished numerous temples and historical sites at the ancient city, claiming that they were idolatrous. The cultural organization censured the demolition as a atrocity.

Numerous artefacts were also lost or taken from dig sites and museums.