Usually, commemorative plaques are pretentious and celebratory about the historic personalities whose they are dedicated: this one, spelling «pitiful scraps of nefrious tyranny», is a masterpiece of brevity. It is walled on the medieval tower known as  “Torre di Ezzelino” in Padua (Italy) and refers to Ezzelino III da Romano aka “The Tyrant” (1194 – 1259), Ghibellin party politician and warlord, allied with Frederick II and  Lord of the March of Treviso. Indeed, it is said that the tower was built by Ezzelino in 1250, with the stones of the buildings previously destroyed by himself, as part of a prison which was then demolished by angry people in 1259. This legend, however, seems to have no historical evidences.[1]

MESTO AVANZO DI NEFANDA TIRANNIDE
pitiful scraps of nefrious tyranny
—
EZZELINO ERESSE
Ezzelino built this

1250

(foto: Professor Bizzarro)

  1. [1]cfr. Ponte Molino e dintorni. Padovando. 11 Apr. 2013. Web.↩

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