Merlion

Merlion viewed from Marina Bay

Merlion with the Marina Bay Sands in the background

The Merlion is the symbol and allegory of the Southeast Asian metropolis of Singapore . The name is an artificial word composed of the English words mermaid ( mermaid ) and lion ( lion ) for the patron saint of the city, a mythical creature with a lion's head, which symbolizes strength and fearlessness, and a fish body, which stands for the origin of and the bond with the sea stands.

history

The figure of Merlion was developed in 1964 by Alec Fraser-Brunner on behalf of the Singapore Tourism Commission as the logo for the city and alludes to the legend of the city's foundation .

The 8.6 m high and 70 t heavy original statue was created by Lim Nang Seng in 1971/72. Inaugurated on September 15, 1972, it was initially located near Anderson Bridge , the then mouth of the Singapore River . After the construction of the Esplanade Bridge , which was completed in 1997, the view from Marina Bay to the statue was restricted, so the statue was relocated. Since April 2002 it has stood at the current mouth of the river, on a kind of ledge in front of the Fullerton Hotel , the so-called Merlion Park . The statue has only been spitting water again since the move, after not doing so since 1998 due to a malfunction of the water pump.

The statue was damaged by a lightning strike on the head and falling parts at the base at around 4:30 a.m. on February 28, 2009, and repaired immediately.

Other statues are scattered across the city, including a 37 m high, walkable replica on the leisure island of Sentosa . However, this was closed on October 20, 2019 and will be demolished due to remodeling measures on the island.