ANSWERS: 1
  • The Merlion statue - a lion head with a fish body resting on a crest of waves - in Merlion Park virtually represents Singapore as an Icon. It was designed by Mr Fraser Brunner - curator of Van Kleef Aquarium - and it has a size of 8.6 meters in height and a weight of about 70 tonnes. The body is built from cement fondue, the skin from porcelain and eyes from red teacups. The lion head represents the lion spotted by Prince Sang Nila Utama when he re-discovered Singapura in 11 AD, as recorded in the “Malay Annals”. The fish tail of the Merlion symbolises the ancient city of Temasek (meaning “sea” in Javanese) by which Singapore was known before the Prince named it “Singapura” (meaning “lion” (singa) “city” (pura) in Sanskrit), and represents Singapore’s humble beginnings as a fishing village. It was first designed as an emblem for the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board (STPB) in 1964.

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