Shahrayar & Scheherazade Monument

The Statue of Shahrazad and Shahryar is one of the most prominent artistic and cultural landmarks in Baghdad, symbolizing Iraq’s rich literary heritage and the timeless tales of “One Thousand and One Nights.”

The statue was sculpted by the late Mohammad Ghani Hikmat, the master of Iraqi sculptors, renowned for his exceptional ability to capture historical figures and legends through his art. The monument was unveiled in 1975.

Shahrazad stands tall with one hand raised as she speaks her face radiates intelligence and calm, as though she is weaving the tale that will save her life. Shahryar sits before her, listening intently, his expression marked by both wonder and remorse after a long history of cruelty.

The design embodies feminine power through wisdom and words, showing how a woman transformed the world not by the sword, but by storytelling. The monument is made of bronze and surrounded by a small green space along the riverbank, appearing from afar like a perpetual theatrical scene.

The story originates from “One Thousand and One Nights”:

King Shahryar, betrayed by his wife, vowed to marry a new woman every night and execute her at dawn. Then came Shahrazad, the vizier’s daughter, who chose to change his fate and that of all women through storytelling. Each night, she narrated a tale and left it unfinished by morning, prompting the king to postpone her execution day after day… until he fell in love with her and his heart was transformed.