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

The theft was noticed on the start of the week, when museum workers allegedly found that one of the museum's doors had been broken from the interior.

The multiple missing statues were made of marble and traced back to the ancient Roman times, an authority informed the media outlet.

The nation's antiquities authority said it had opened an investigation to identify the "circumstances surrounding the theft of a collection of items", and that steps had been implemented to improve protection and surveillance.

The head of domestic security in Damascus province, General Osama Atkeh, was quoted by the state-run Sana news agency as saying that law enforcement were examining the theft, which he said had focused on several "historical artifacts and rare collectibles".

He noted that security personnel at the institution and other persons were being questioned.

The cultural institution, which was established in 1919, contains the most important historical artifacts in the country.

It features clay cuneiform tablets tracing back to the ancient era from historical site, where indications of the oldest known writing system was uncovered; Greco-Roman period classical statues from historical site, a significant cultural centres of the ancient world; and a 3rd Century AD religious building that was established at another archaeological site.

The institution was forced to close in the early 2010s, one year after the beginning of the destructive conflict. Most of the collection was evacuated and stored at secure places to protect them.

It partially resumed in recent years and completely reopened in the beginning of the year, a month after rebel forces overthrew Syria's former leader.

Every one of the country's cultural landmarks were damaged or partly ruined during the conflict.

The Islamic State group destroyed multiple ancient buildings and historical sites at the ancient city, claiming that they were idolatrous. International authorities condemned the damage as a atrocity.

Many artefacts were also damaged or looted from historical locations and cultural institutions.