The words on the pedestal of Ozymandias's statue in Percy Bysshe Shelley's poem "Ozymandias" are ironic because they initially serve to highlight the grandeur and arrogance of the ancient king, but ultimately emphasize the futility and transience of human achievements. The inscription, which reads "My name is Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!" suggests that Ozymandias was a powerful ruler with a legacy that would inspire awe in future generations. However, the irony lies in the fact that all that remains of his once-mighty kingdom is a "vast and trunkless legs of stone" in a barren desert. Instead of impressing the viewer, the ruins of Ozymandias's statue ironically serve as a reminder of the fleeting nature of power and the inevitable decay of all human endeavors.
