THE imposing clock tower at the Palace of Westminster is known as Big Ben. The etymology of Big Ben all came about when it was named after the bell inside the clock tower. It is also known as the Great Bell. It was called Big Ben because the architect of the clock tower is named Ben. His full name is actually Benjamin Hall, who also happens to be an English knight. Knights in England as we know are so honored that they are accorded privileges such as naming edifices after them. It was actually a Member of the Parliament who institutionalized the nickname in honor of a co-knight.

Big Ben and the clock tower of course first came into being and was inaugurated in October 22, 1834. For decades after that, it has already been the subject of pop culture the world over but most notably in British literature. The most recent reference to Big Ben was in the movie Jumper. In the movie, Jumper was standing in front of the clock itself hoisting an umbrella because it was raining in London at the time. He was enjoying the view of London while standing near the top of the tower. In the last installment of Harry Potter, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Big Ben was featured as Harry Potter and his co-wizards zoomed past it and over the River Thames via brooms. Of course, Big Ben was also featured in V for Vendetta and in that movie, Big Ben was under the management of a Nazi authoritarian government. It was destroyed by the rebels in the movie. In the doomsday movie Independence Day, Big Ben was being destroyed. It was likewise destroyed in the doomsday spoof Mars Attacks! as well as in the movie The War of the Worlds. In the British production Flood, Big Ben was swept away in a surge of water from the River Thames. When the whole of post-apocalyptic London was attacked by a virus in 28 Days Later, Big Ben was featured as a nostalgic structure standing among the ruins. In the film Reign of Fire with Matthew McConaughey, Big Ben was devoured by dragons. Jeez, if only we are to follow all literatures referencing Big Ben as true, then Big Ben would have been mauled time and again. Imagine it being eaten by a dragon! Lol!

If you are vacationing right here in London, it is advisable to visit Big Ben at night because it is fully illuminated. Maintained by the House of Parliament, the House of Parliament spends thousands of pounds each season to replace the lights at Big Ben according to the occasion, the most spectacular of which occurring during Christmas.