Wall of Fame

Ever wondered what secrets lie within the ancient stones of world’s most famed walls? Travel through time with Diya Mishra, AIS Vas 6, Alumna, and uncover the stories and surprises hidden in these mighty marvels of history.

Hadrian’s Wall
Marvelength: Spanning 117 kilometres across Northern England.
Historic era: Despite being massive, it was built in just 6 years by 15,000 Roman
soldiers between 122-128 AD - an engineering marvel. 
Building blocks: Made of stone and turf, the wall marked the northwestern frontier of the Roman empire and included milecastles, forts, and turrets to support the troops.
Now: The wall is an archaeological site and a walking trail, drawing visitors
interested in Roman history and ancient military strategy.
Fun memorial: George RR Martin has credited a visit to the site in the early 1980s as  inspiration for the The Wall in his fantasy series ‘Game of Thrones’.

Berlin Wall
Marvelength: It stretched for a total length of 155 km around West Berlin.
Historic era: Construction began in 1961 and was mostly finished by 1989.
Building blocks: The wall consisted of concrete barriers up to 3.6 metres high, topped with pipes and guarded with watchtowers, anti-vehicle trenches, and barbed wire. It fell on November 9, 1989, marking the end of the Cold War.
Now: Remnants of the wall now stand as memorials and museums, reminding the world of the importance of unity and freedom.
Fun memorial: In 1990, a massive rock concert was held by Pink Floyd near the ruins of the wall. About 3,50,000 fans attended it.

Kremlin Wall
Marvelength: It stretches along the Moskva River, around 2,235 yards.
Historic era: The current Kremlin walls, constructed from red brick, were built between 1485 and 1516.
Building blocks: Originally built of wood, it was rebuilt using white stone, before being reconstructed with red brick by Italian architects in the 15th century.
Now: It’s a government centre, cultural symbol, and home to churches, palaces, and national treasures.
Fun memorial: The Kremlin, enclosed by the wall, was camouflaged during WWII to resemble a residential area, with fake doors and windows painted.

The Great Wall of China
Marvelength: Approximately 21,000 km long, it’s nearly half of the Earth’s circumference.
Historic era: Construction took over 2,000 years. Most famous sections date back to the Ming dynasty (1368-1644).
Building blocks: Made of stone, brick, tamped earth, and wood, the wall includes watchtowers, barracks, signal towers, and fortresses.
Now: It has transformed from a military defence structure and symbol of imperial power to a touristic monument rooted in folklore and myths.
Fun memorial: It has graffiti! Tourists have scratched names into it for centuries - the oldest graffiti is over 500 years old.

Western Wall (Wailing Wall)
Marvelength: Located in the Old City of Jerusalem, the tallest portion of the wall above ground is 40 metres.
Historic era: It dates back to late first century of BCE, making it over 2,000 years old.
Building blocks: The wall is made of limestone blocks and displays Herodian masonry with finely carved margins.
Now: A central place of prayer and pilgrimage for Jews, it also serves as a symbol of Jewish connection to their past.
Fun memorial: People can send prayers online, and a robot places them into the wall for them! People pray there 24X7, all year round.