The Lion City

Singapore earned its name “Lion City” from a fascinating tale rooted in its history. Legend has it that in the 13th century, Prince Sang Nila Utama, the founder of ancient Singapore, encountered a mysterious creature resembling a lion during a visit to the island. Taking it as an auspicious sign, he named the newfound land “Singapura,” combining the Sanskrit words “Simha” (lion) and “Pura” (city). Ironically, there were no lions native to the region, leading historians to speculate that the creature Prince Sang Nila Utama saw might have been a Malayan tiger or a leopard. Regardless of the species, the symbolic association with strength and majesty stuck, and Singapore has since embraced its identity as the Lion City.