Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Singapore History

Since its early beginnings that intertwine fact and folklore, Singapore has been engaged in the pomp of ancient Malay empires, the intrigues of medieval trade, the bartering of European colonial powers and the challenge of nation-building.
Here, we give you an account of the island's remarkable development throughout the centuries.
Legend has it ...
The beginnings of Singapore are steeped in local Malay legend. The island is said to have received its name from a visiting Sumatran prince in the 14th century, who saw a fearsome creature - later identified to him as a lion - on his arrival.
Taking this as a good omen, the prince founded a new city on the spot, changing the name of the island from Temasek to Singapura. In Sanskrit, "singa" means lion and "pura" means city. Thus the Lion City was born, and today the symbol of the merlion - a mythical creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish - is a reminder of Singapore's early connections to this legend and the seas. http://singaporetouristspot.com//about.htm

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