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Sometimes it’s hard to come up something to write about. But when you stare at the wall to think of a subject, it seems natural to write about walls. Here are six of the most notable.
Jericho
The Walls of Jericho were made famous by tumbling down. The city of Jericho, on the West Bank near the Jordan River, has been occupied in one form or another since 9,000 BC. The Book of Joshua in the Bible describes the Battle of Jericho, where the Hebrews circled the town seven times and the defensive walls of the city collapsed. It was the Israelites’ first victory in the conquest of Canaan. Archaeology at the site shows the city has been destroyed and rebuilt many times.
Hadrian’s Wall
Hadrian’s Wall was built in England by the Roman army in 122-130 AD. Of several defensive walls they constructed, Hadrian’s Wall is the most famous, because parts of it still survive today. It originally extended from Segedunum to the shore of the Solway Firth, a distance of 117 kilometers. The official purpose of the wall was to defend against the Picts of the north, although there is some speculation that it was also to give the Roman legions something to do while occupying England.
More walls, after the jump.
Pink Floyd
The Wall by Pink Floyd was recorded in 1979. Over 30 million copies have been sold, and the album is often cited in various lists of “best albums.” It was made into a movie in 1982. Floyd’s Roger Waters intended to star in the movie, which was planned even before the album was recorded, but after he failed his screens tests, Bob Geldof was cast in the lead role. The Wall refers to a psychological wall the protagonist builds to isolate himself from the world around him.
The Western Wall
The Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall, is a retaining wall in Jerusalem that survives from the time of the Second Jewish Temple. It is the closest area to the original Holy of Holies that is publicly accessible for Jewish prayer and worship. The original location of the Temple is under control of a Muslim council; it is also the site of the Dome of the Rock, a sacred Islamic shrine.
The Berlin Wall
The Berlin Wall was the ultimate symbol of the Cold War for 28 years. After World War II, control of Germany was divided between the Allies. Although Berlin lay within the Soviet zone, it was also divided among American, British, French, and Soviet rule. In the years after the war, so many citizens left East Berlin for the relative freedom of the other zones that the USSR began construction of the wall in 1961, effectively isolating West Berlin. Approximately 5,000 people still escaped to the free zones, and around 192 people were killed in the attempt. On November 9, 1989, the wall and its effective purpose fell under pressure from thousands of protesters and refugees. East and West Germany were formally reunited a year later.
The Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is the most famous wall of all. 6,400 kilometers long, it is the longest human-built structure ever. The first parts of the wall were built in the 5th century BC, and was added to and repaired through the 16th century. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Over 130 million tourists have visited the most accessible part of the wall, at Badaling, just north of Beijing.This photo is by Flickr user Saad.
What other walls belong in the “famous” category?
Comments (22)
Comment
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Here’s a more “infamous” wall in Israel:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_West_Bank_barrier
Or a wall for the dead of Vietnam:
thewall-usa.com/wallpics/gallery.htm
Or the USA border wall:
http://www.notexasborderwall.com/
Just a few more.
Jack
posted by Jack Moss on 9-27-2007 at 5:49 am
Considering much of Hadrian’s Wall was made of turf with more than 80 gates in it, it wasn’t much of a defensive system. It seems that the Wall was more of simply a border control than a means of protection. Some more recent interpretations of the Wall include a means of east-west communications or a way of levying a tax on goods that crossed the border.
posted by Pica on 9-27-2007 at 6:11 am
The “wall” of separation of church and state.
posted by John(GraspingfortheWind) on 9-27-2007 at 6:42 am
Don’t forget Phil Spector’s “Wall of Sound”
posted by Anthony on 9-27-2007 at 7:41 am
Great Wall of Gorgon – notable as the second largest defensive wall in existence!
posted by TerryS on 9-27-2007 at 9:05 am
What about Wall Street? It was originally built to protect the city (the city only went as far north as where Wall Street is today) from Indian Tribes and colonists.
posted by Jenny on 9-27-2007 at 9:30 am
How about Wal-Mart. I visit that wall every week.
posted by Terry on 9-27-2007 at 11:14 am
George Carlin has a great plan to wall off rectangular, connected states and convert them into prisons for the dregs of society…violent criminals, drug users, sexual predators, and crazy people. Once a year gates between the prisons open, creating a frenzy. Funny stuff.
Happy Birthday, Miss Cellania!
posted by Johnny Cat on 9-27-2007 at 11:43 am
Don’t forget the wall just near the town of Wall in Neil Gaiman’s Stardust.
posted by Pointy-Hatted Geek on 9-27-2007 at 7:49 pm
When marathon runners run out of stamina (energy) they say they “Hit The Wall.”
posted by Tdave on 9-28-2007 at 2:50 am
Wall-to-Wall counseling.
posted by JackieG on 9-28-2007 at 5:26 am
YOU LEFT OUT THE MOST FAMOUS OF ALL:
JESSE WALL !!!!
posted by Skee-Bo on 9-28-2007 at 8:33 am
Thanks Skeebo
Jesse
posted by jesse wall on 9-28-2007 at 9:39 am
Another consideration: Wall, South Dakota, home of Wall Drug, possibly the world’s most famous tourist trap.
posted by JPop on 9-28-2007 at 9:51 am
You might also include:
Jeff Wall
Wall of Voodoo
posted by Charlie on 9-28-2007 at 11:17 am
The wall around the Old City of Jerusalem should be included. Also the old Byzantine city wall in Istanbul.
posted by Tom W on 9-28-2007 at 12:50 pm
How about the wall at Ellis Island with all the immigrants names?
posted by Kirsten on 10-4-2007 at 12:42 pm
I recently faux-painted my wall — yellow. It keeps me on the inside; its three windows allow me to look out to my part of the city. My new yellow wall changes color tone, depending on time of day. I’ve grown to like it.
posted by Harry on 11-1-2007 at 6:57 pm
who is jesse wall?
posted by tiffany h. on 2-26-2008 at 1:47 pm
@JPop, I think Walt Disney World is slightly more famous than that. True, it isn’t a wall, but still. I’ve read about your tourist trap, though.
posted by Sara on 3-1-2009 at 12:41 pm
Please add Wall Township Speedway, in New Jersey. After a half-century of operation, it was closed for nearly all of 2008. However, a group of promoters got together and reopened the track for the annual Turkey Derby last Thanksgiving weekend. The place was JAMMED.
Good news: the management group has announced that Wall Township will resume as a bi-weekly operation in 2009!
If you’re gonna rebuid a “Wall,” that’s a good place to start!
posted by Mike D. on 3-4-2009 at 9:06 am
The Vietnam Memorial Wall. Can’t believe no one has mentioned this.
posted by Jon K. on 3-4-2009 at 7:38 pm