It’s one of the most famous names in the world, up there with the Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty and Washington DC. But now London’s Big Ben clock tower has been renamed Elizabeth Tower to mark the queen’s 60th year on the British throne.
The landmark, part of Britain’s Houses of Parliament, is officially called the Clock Tower but is commonly known as Big Ben, the name of the giant bell in the tower that chimes the famous bongs in the capital.
The origin of the nickname Big Ben is the subject of some debate. The clock tower could have been named after astronomer, mathematician, surveyor, almanac author, farmer, inventor of America’s first striking clock and Maryland native, African American Benjamin Banneker.
It may have been named after Sir Benjamin Hall, who oversaw the installation of the bell in the clock tower, or after boxing’s English Heavyweight Champion Benjamin Caunt.
Despite its rebrand, the Elizabeth Tower doesn’t merely honor its new namesake. The tower’s clock also pays homage to Liz’s great-great-grandmother through inscriptions at the base of each of the clock dials. “DOMINE SALVAM FAC REGINAM NOSTRAM VICTORIAM PRIMAM,” they read. “O Lord, keep safe our Queen Victoria the First.”
