Singapore’s Hercules

Another well-known Singapore folk tale? Enter Badang, a Malay hero in ancient Singapore who may have been the country’s only answer to Hercules, if at all. As a poor fisherman who lived on the banks of the Singapore River, he would set a trap to catch fish every evening. When he discovered a water jinn (spirit) had been stealing his fish, he trapped the spirit, who promised to grant him any power if Badang ate whatever the spirit threw up. His wish for superhuman strength was granted, and he was soon appointed court warrior by the Sultan of Singapore. He was challenged to duel the strongest man in India in a series of contests – the last of which being a rock-throwing competition.

Badang effortlessly flung a huge rock into the waters, and it landed near the mouth of the Singapore River. Years after the legend had been told, a rock was discovered at the same spot with an indecipherable inscription. That rock was blown up to widen the river, but a fragment survives today – and you’ll easily find the so-called Singapore Stone on display at the National Museum of Singapore.

References: Wikipedia