What is the history of Merlion in Singapore?
The Merlion was first used in Singapore as the logo for the tourism board. Its name combines “mer”, meaning the sea, and “lion”. The fish body represents Singapore’s origin as a fishing village when it was called Temasek, which means “sea town” in Javanese.
Why Merlion Park is famous?
The Merlion Park is a major Singapore attraction overlooking the Marina Bay. It has two iconic statues of the famous Merlion which is a beautiful mythical structure with a head of a lion and the body of a fish. The lion spouts water from its mouth which makes for a great picture.
What inspired the Merlion story?
Mythical beginnings It has been said that the Merlion reflects the legend of Sang Nila Utama, a Malay prince that sailed across the seas before discovering a fishing island called Temasek (which mean “fish town” in Javanese).
Where did the Merlion come from?
So the mer part of Merlion comes from Singapore’s history as a small fishing village. Back in the 1960’s the Singapore Tourism Board were looking for an icon that would brand Singapore. A designer called Fraser Brunner in 1964 merged the tale of the lion to Singapore’s humble fishing village beginnings.
How old is the Merlion?
The Merlion is a mythical creature with a lion’s head and the body of a fish that is widely used as a mascot and national personification of Singapore. Two Merlion statues are located at the park….
| Merlion Park | |
|---|---|
| Established | 25 April 2002 |
| Status | Open |
| Public transit access | EW14 NS26 Raffles Place |
Who invented the Merlion?
There are seven authorised Merlion statues in Singapore,3 the most well-known being an 8-metre-tall statue designed by Kwan Sai Kheong and sculpted by Lim Nang Seng. First unveiled on 15 September 1972,5 this statue is now located at the new Merlion Park, adjacent to One Fullerton at the Marina Bay waterfront.