What has a lion head and a fish body? Of course it’s the majestic Merlion – a well-known national icon of Singapore! Stood guard at the Merlion Pier, off One Fullerton, the creature keeps tourist cameras’ furiously snapping away on a daily basis. While its head ascribes to the name Singapura, meaning Lion City and is linked to the legendary founding of Singapore by a Palembang Prince, who spotted a lion on arriving at the island, its fish-tail alludes to the country’s historical connection with the ocean and invokes its forefathers’ commercial dependence on it as a trading port. What an emblem to remember Singapore history!

We are Singapore. We will stand together, hear the lion roar. We are Singapore…

The green, leafy Merlion adorns Changi Airport Terminal 3.

Merlion paper weights have become good souvenir take-aways for tourists.

End of “The Majestic Merlion” Back to “MySingapore Blog”.