The Merlion statue, icon of Singapore. The lion head symbolises the legend of the discovery of Singapore as recorded in the "Malay Annals", which has it that Prince Sang Nila Utama of the Sri Vijaya Empire sighted a lion when he discovered Singapore in 11 AD, and so decided to name the island "Singapura" which in Sanskrit means Lion (Singa) City (Pura). The fish tail symbolises the humble beginnings of Singapore as a fishing village, when it was known as Temasek, a Javanese word for sea.