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latter for wear at official occasions. The breast badges are suspended by ribbons 21mm to 25mm wide of varying materials; the 1st and 2nd Class Decorations of Labor have 30.1mm diameter green and olive cotton ribbons.

Figure 7: Reverses (left to right) of the breast badges of the Decoration of Labor, Type 1 and Type 2.

Saddam’s Prize for Arts

To date no copy of the instituting law is known, but from the evidence of the date 1988 on the illustrated 2nd Class example (Figure 8) it can be inferred that the Prize existed at that date and may well predate this as a probable award was that made to Iraqi artist Shaik Hassan Al Said at the Baghdad International Arts Festival in 1986.

Obverse: A pendulous semi-circular shape consisting of a wreath of palm leaves bearing in the center a mallet, lyre, painter’s palette and Sumerian bull’s head; all symbolic of the arts. The palette bears the Arabic inscription,Figure 6: Obverses (left to right) of the breast badges of the

Decoration of Labor, Type 1 and Type 2.

(Decoration of Labor)

Figure 5: Second Class Decoration of Labor Medallion.

In this instance the Arabic name of the designer MOHAMMED GHANI is at the base of the design between the stems of the palm fronds. In addition to the large medallion format, breast badges of the Decoration of Labor are known being 30.75 mm in diameter and 2.4mm in thickness (Figures 6 and 7). It may be that the recipient received both a medallion and breast badge, the

18 JOMSA

The name of the designer, MOHAMMED GHANI, is at the base of the design.

Reverse: Within a decorative border a quotation from Saddam Hussein,

(Art is like politics, creating life in progressive patterns.President Leader Saddam Hussein)

The dimensions of these awards slightly differ with the 1st Class being 94.5gms in weight, and 65.8mm x 63.5mm in size (Figure 9), while the 2nd Class is 96.0gms in weight and of the same size. The 2nd Class has a small diamond shaped link in the suspension, 17.7mm x 26.1mm, bearing the date 1988. The ribbon in both instances is 29mm in width and maroon and blue respectively. The awards are probably of Italian manufacture.

Figure 9: Obverse (left) and reverse of Saddam’s Prize for Arts, 1st Class

Order of Appreciation

In 1988 Regulation No. 11 was issued instituting an Order of Appreciation. The first Article of the Regulation noted the institution of the awards for the following fields of endeavor:

Science & Technology.Social & Economic Sciences.Philosophy & Logic.Language & Literature.Fine Art.Military Science.Judiciary & Law.

The subsequent articles describe the format of the Order as being of 22 carat gold; 80 grams in weight; octagonal in shape; 6cm in diameter; suspended by a wreath; and with a ribbon 50cm in length and 3.5cm wide in the Iraqi colours of red white and black. The obverse of the Order bears the inscription,

(Iraq – Saddam’s Order of Appreciation)

The reverse of the awards bears the image of Saddam Hussein and his signature. While no details of an actual award can be given according to the Regulations, each award bears an inscription appropriate to the field of endeavor:

Figure 8: Obverses (left to right) of Saddam’s Prize for the Arts with ‘1988’ suspension device.

(Saddam Prize for Arts Baghdad)

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Science & Technology

Social & Economic Sciences

Philosophy & Logic

(We are born of the past though we are not bound to it, but must lead in the present)

Languages & Literature

Fine Art

(The artist is like a politician, both make life in progressive forms)

Military Science

(Popular culture is the effective base of the military ideal)

Judiciary & Law

(Law is the essential tool of a judge, but it is not justice in itself)

To date I have been unable to obtain an image of the Order of Appreciation/

Saddam’s Prize for Literature

Law No. 16 of 1991 instituted a specific literature award, Saddam’s Prize for Literature. It was was established to recognize the achievements of modern Iraqi and other Arab authors, dramatist and poets in the following fields:

PoetryVisual Art and TheatreLiterary Research

Language StudiesHistory of Literature and Textual ExegesisLiterary Production

Bestowal of the prize was the remit of a Committee under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and an appointed jury of 18 specialists with no more than three to each particular field of endeavor. Six prizes were awarded annually and the prize consisted of a monetary award, a certificate and an order.

The size of the monetary award was decided by the President of the Republic and this was to be reviewed every five years. A recipient of the award had also to be seen by the awarding committee as being supportive of the aims of the regime. A probable recipient was the Iraq novelist and film director Ali Badr who was awarded the State Prize for Literature in 2002.

Obverse: A circular gilded base metal medal 83mm in diameter – manufacturer unknown (Figure 10). With the inscription,

(Saddam’s Prize for Literature)

Figure 10: Obverse (left) and reverse of Saddam’s Prize for Literature Medal.

Reverse: The calligraphic Arabic inscription,

(Nations that have never produced great artists and poets will never produce great politicians. President Leader Saddam Hussein)

(Concern for nation building is no less than concern for science)

(Economics is a vital and essential artery of life)

(Language is not only a means of communication but also a way of thinking)