Singapore’s history is denoted in many travellers’ accounts and historic records,
as early as the 13th century. Malay archives record Singapore’s original name as Temasek.
Even then, the island was noted as a port of some significance.
According to legend, Singapore got its name "Singapura", the Sanskrit term for "Lion City", from Sang Nila Utama, a ruler of the ancient region of Palembang (part of present-day Indonesia) in the 13th century. He was said to have spotted a lion on the island during a visit, and took it as an auspicious sign to build an important regional kingdom there. Although lions are not indigenous to Singapore, and what the prince saw may have been a tiger,
the association between Singapore and the symbolism of the lion has stuck, and forms a major part of our national symbols today.