Statue of Merlion
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The Statue of Merlion – a mythic creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish, sitting on the crest of the wave – is the most iconic symbol of Singapore. Over one million travelers from all over the world come here to admire the giant monument of halffish-halflion.
The mysterious creature, with which Singapore has been associated for several decades already, was devised by the designer Fraser Brunner, originally as a tourist emblem for the city. His idea was to symbolize the strength and bravery of Singapore with Merlion’s lion head, additionally because Singapore means ‘Lion’s City’ in Sanskrit. The statue’s fish body is a reference to Singapore’s past – it was once a small fishing village – embodying the close connection between the city-state and the sea. The locals, however, will assure anyone who listens that Merlion is a real creature that has lived in Singapore coastal waters for a long time, protecting the city from all kinds of troubles and disasters.
Initially, a concrete statue measuring 8,6 meters and weighing 70 tons was installed not far from the Esplanade Bridge. However, in 2002, the monument was moved 120 meters along: to the center of the namesake park that is located opposite to the Marina Bay and is very popular among tourists. There is another statue; a mere two meters high and weighing three tons in the park’s grounds: the so called "Merlion’s baby".
