The Baghdad Monument or the Monument to the Unknown Soldier is a memorial in central Baghdad built by Italian architect Marcello D'Olivo based on a concept by Iraqi sculptor Khaled al-Rahal and built between 1979 and 1982. It is a monument dedicated to the martyrs of the Iran-Iraq war, and near the memorial, two other monuments were built, and today they are one of the most important tourist attractions in the city. The monument was distinguished by a distinctive design of a long extended spear, with a background resembling a shell, in reference to security, safety and protection.