The Merlion
The earliest written record of Singapore occurs in a Chinese account from the third century, describing the island of Pu Luo Chung (蒲 罗 中). This was itself a transliteration from the Malay name ”Pulau Ujong“, or “island at the end” (of the Malay Peninsula). The quasi-mythological Sejarah Melayu (Malay Annals) contains a tale of a prince ofSrivijaya, Sri Tri Buana (also known as Sang Nila Utama), who landed on the island during the 13th century. When he saw a lion, the prince took this as an auspicious sign and founded a settlement called Singapura, which means “Lion City” in Malay. However, it is unlikely there ever were lions in Singapore, though tigers continued to roam the island until the early 20th century.
