The inscription (1928) is found atop the Victory Light (‘Faro della Vittoria’) in the Garden of Remembrance (Piazzale Giuseppe Verdi). The monument was inaugurated on 4 November 1928, 10 years after the victory in First World War. Text’s author is unknown.

The inscription is carved in bas-relief using Roman square capitals. Each word is placed on a different side of the upper part of the obelisk. The obelisk also features angular fasces and tricoloured glass, crowned by a star, a symbol of Italy. The base is adorned with bas-reliefs of swords, helmets, and oak and laurel leaves. 

The text presents the victory in the Great War as a renewal of Rome’s glorious military heritage, suggesting the creation of a new empire under Fascism. Such ideas widely were widespread during the war and were promoted by the Nationalist Italian Association and intellectuals such as Gabriele D’Annunzio (1863–1938). They later became integral to Fascist ideology and propaganda.

The monument was created by the sculptor Francesco Petroni (1877–1960), born in Lucca. In front of it stands an altar adorned with Savoy coats of arms, lions’ heads, oak and laurel leaves. It supports a rock from the Karst region, a site where Italian troops fought many battles, known as the Twelve Battles of the Isonzo, and suffered significant losses during the war.

Antonino Nastasi