Victory Arch Travel Guide

The Victory Arch, officially known as the Swords of Qādisiyyah, is an iconic monument located in central Baghdad, Iraq. Popularly called the Hands of Victory or the Crossed Swords, the monument consists of two arches. Each arch features a pair of outstretched hands holding crossed swords, marking the entrances to the Grand Festivities Square.Commissioned by Saddam Hussein to commemorate the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), the Victory Arch was opened to the public on August 8, 1989. The arches are an allusion to the Battle of al-Qadisiyyah in 636 CE, when Arab armies defeated the Sasanian Empire.The design was initially conceived by Saddam Hussein, with Iraqi sculptor Khaled al-Rahal winning the commission to design and construct the arches. After al-Rahal's death in 1987, Mohammed Ghani Hikmat took over the project. The swords are made of stainless steel and weigh 24 tons each. They contain metal from guns and tanks of Iraqi soldiers killed in the Iran-Iraq war. The hands and arms are bronze, and each plinth holds 2,500 helmets claimed to be from fallen Iranian soldiers.Today, the Victory Arch stands as a reminder of Iraq's complex history and the sacrifices of its people. Visitors can walk beneath the arch and appreciate the intricate details of the monument.