5/5 Hayder Q. 4 years ago on Google
Great
Celebrations
square
is
the
main
square
for
public
celebrations
in
Baghdad
with
a
stadium
for
the
heads
of
the
state
in
the
center
of
the
Parade
avenue.
The
square
is
home
to
three
important
public
monuments
created
by
leading
mid-20th
century
sculptors.
Description
In
1986
(two
years
before
the
war's
end)
the
Iraqi
Ba'athist
government
began
construction
of
a
festival
and
parade
ground
in
Zawra
Park,
near
the
extensive
presidential
complex
in
the
center
of
Baghdad.
The
square
is
located
near
the
Harthiya
and
in
the
fortified
Green
Zone,
and
the
site
was
specifically
selected
for
its
symbolic
value.
Iraqis
generally
believe
it
is
the
same
location
where
the
Muslim
Arabs
defeated
the
Persians
in
636
CE
and
this
historic
event
is
seen
to
be
the
beginning
of
Islamic
domination
of
the
region.The
site
was
intended
to
become
the
place
where
military
parades
and
national
events
would
be
held.
Known
as
Grand
Festivities
Square,
it
comprised
a
large
parade
ground,
an
extensive
review
pavilion
and
a
large
reflecting
pool.
The
surrounding
grassy
areas
hosted
Iraqis
during
military
parades.
Adding
to
the
festive
appeal
of
the
grounds
were
three
refreshments
booths
that
sold
ice
cream,
cold
beverages,
and
candy.
The
then
leader
of
Iraq,
Saddam
Hussein
commissioned
three
major
public
artworks
for
the
area.
These
artworks
were
to
be
memorials
to
Iraq's
fallen
soldiers,
a
remembrance
of
Iraq's
pain
and
suffering
as
a
consequence
of
the
Iran-Iraq
war
and
symbols
of
Iraq's
victory
in
the
war.
The
Monument
to
the
Unknown
Soldier,
based
on
a
concept
by
Iraqi
sculptor,
Khaled
al-Rahal,
and
situated
just
beyond
the
perimeter
of
the
Square,
had
already
opened
in
1982.
Another
major
work,
the
colossal,
Al-Shaheed
Monument
designed
by
Iraqi
sculptor,
Ismail
Fatah
Al
Turk,
and
situated
on
the
river
bank
had
been
inaugurated
in
1983.
Hussein
commissioned
a
third
monument,
the
Victory
Arches,
another
concept
by
the
sculptor,
Khaled
Al-Rahal,
to
be
built
in
the
same
vicinity
and
it
was
inaugurated
in
1989.
The
Victory
Arches
mark
the
entrances
to
the
Square.
On
the
day
the
Arches
were
dedicated
(8
August,
1989),
Saddam
rode
under
the
arches
astride
a
white
horse.
It
is
generally
acknowledged
that
Hussein
intended
to
cast
an
allusion
to
the
slain
Shiite
martyr
Hussein,
killed
in
Karbala
in
680
CE,
whose
death
caused
the
rift
between
Shiite
and
Sunni
Muslims.
The
monument,
although
presenting
a
triumphalist
narrative
in
relation
to
the
Iran-Iraq
war,
has
assumed
a
broader
symbolism
and
represents
those
Iraqis
who
fell
in
any
war
throughout
the
country's
history.
The
three
monuments
in
the
vicinity
of
the
square
form
a
visual
and
symbolic
unit.
The
construction
of
the
three
artworks
was
part
of
a
broader
Ba'athist
government
program
to
beautify
Baghdad,
instil
a
sense
of
national
pride,
and
at
the
same
time
immortalise
Sadam
Hussein's
reputation
as
a
powerful
leader.
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