“Game of Thrones” Season 8 ended with a thud rather than a bang, leaving fans clutching their metaphorical pitchforks. From Starbucks cups in medieval Westeros to Jaime Lannister’s magical hand regeneration, the final season felt like a masterclass in self-sabotage. But let’s put our collective disappointment aside and focus on something more solid—literally. The Wall.

The Wall That Fell in One Night (But Stood for 8,000 Years)

For seven seasons, the 700-foot-tall, 300-mile-long Wall stood as Westeros’ ultimate defense against White Walkers, Wildlings, and existential dread. Then, in the final season, the Night King gave it the cold shoulder—quite literally—by melting a massive chunk of it with his newly acquired undead dragon.

But did you know that the real Wall that inspired this icy barrier still exists? And no, it’s not China’s Great Wall. George R.R. Martin actually based it on Hadrian’s Wall, a much humbler structure built by the Romans in Britain.

Hadrian’s Wall: The Not-So-Icy Inspiration

Unlike its fantasy counterpart, Hadrian’s Wall isn’t a towering behemoth of ice. Instead, it’s a relatively short (15 feet tall at its peak), stone-built fortification that stretches 73 miles across Northern England. Built in 122 AD by the Roman Emperor Hadrian, it was meant to keep out the “barbarians” of Scotland—who, to be fair, were just living their best Pictish lives.

Why Build a Wall?

Hadrian’s Empire had already conquered much of Britain, but the northern tribes (today’s Scots) were proving too unruly. Rather than waste resources on endless skirmishes, Hadrian took a page from every classic empire playbook: “If we can’t control them, let’s at least contain them.” And so, Hadrian’s Wall was born.

A Long but Not-So-Tall Defense

While The Wall in Game of Thrones loomed at 700 feet, Hadrian’s Wall barely reached 15 feet in most places. Yet, it was an architectural marvel of its time, featuring:

  • A deep trench (Vallum) to slow down invaders.
  • Forts every few miles, housing Roman soldiers.
  • Watchtowers to spot threats early.
  • Military roads for troop movement.

Sounds effective, right? Well, sort of. The Scots still raided south, and by the mid-5th century, the Romans had abandoned Britain altogether. So much for an impenetrable defense.

The Real-Life Night King: Emperor Antoninus

Hadrian’s Wall wasn’t even the Romans’ last attempt at border control. After Hadrian’s death, his successor, Antoninus Pius, decided to push further north and built Antonine Wall—which lasted about as long as a minor character in Game of Thrones. Within a few decades, the Romans gave up and retreated back to Hadrian’s Wall.

Hadrian: The Architect Emperor

Hadrian wasn’t just a wall-builder; he was also a lover of art, architecture, and—interestingly—a Greek boy named Antinous. When Antinous drowned in the Nile, Hadrian deified him, building statues and even founding a city in his name. Talk about an immortalized romance.

The Wall in History and Fantasy

While Hadrian’s Wall couldn’t stop the Scots, and The Wall in Game of Thrones couldn’t stop the White Walkers, both remain legendary symbols of power, paranoia, and the limits of human control. Whether built of stone or ice, no wall stands forever—except, perhaps, in our collective imagination.