Golden Goddesses

The **Golden Goddesses** are recurring deities in *The Legend of Zelda* series. They are **Din**, the Goddess of Power, **Nayru**, the Goddess of Wisdom, and **Farore**, the Goddess of Courage, the chief gods and creators of the land that becomes the Kingdom of Hyrule and the extended world that it resides in. It is understood that the Golden Goddesses have always existed, and that they are omnipotent and eternal. Though the Golden Goddesses are the most important gods of the world, they are mentioned by few characters in the series, and knowledge of them has been shown to be limited to the people of Hyrule alone, most races worshiping their own patron deities. Signs of their existence has been visible in parallel worlds such as Termina and the World of the Ocean King also, implying that they may have created those worlds as well.

Note that there is no direct evidence of the existence of the Golden Goddesses, and there is no reason to believe that there could not be more gods and goddesses than just these three.

## Din

Din is one of the three omnipotent **Golden Goddesses** who created the **land of Hyrule** (along with parallel realms, such as the **Sacred Realm**). Din's essence, as well as the essence of her sisters **Nayru** and **Farore**, is the source of the **Golden Power** within the sacred relic, the **Triforce**. Her crest is the **Mark of Din**.

Before time began, Din, along with **Nayru** and **Farore**, descended upon the chaos that was to become the land of Hyrule, each of them creating a different facet of the realm. According to the **Great Deku Tree** in Ocarina of Time, Din, "with her strong flaming arms, cultivated the land and created the red earth." Upon departure, they created the **Triforce**, the embodiment of the goddesses' divine essence, and left it within the **Sacred Realm**.

Din's essence is what constitutes the **Triforce of Power**, which affords Ganon his great power and mystical abilities. To a much smaller extent, Din's power can also be invoked by a powerful sorcerer. Her essence is often represented by fire as exemplified in the magic spell **Din's Fire**.

As the Goddess of Power, Din is associated with themes that exemplify power. Most often, she is associated with the elements of fire and earth. She is also associated with mountains, and more specifically volcanoes such as **Death Mountain/Eldin Volcano**. Through her association with fire and earth, symbols and talismans meant to evoke Din are often colored red.

Of the races of Hyrule, Din's essence is most exemplified by the **Goron** race. These volcano-dwelling, rock-consuming golems epitomize the essence of Din; in their society, they respect power, moreover, physical strength, as demonstrated in their relentless competition with one another in tests of strength. They are the most physically capable of all the races in Hyrule, boasting superhuman strength, and nigh invulnerability.

## Nayru

Nayru is one of the three Golden Goddesses who created the realm of Hyrule (along with parallel realms, such as the Sacred Realm).[4] Nayru is the source of the fundamental laws that govern the realm of Hyrule.[3] Nayru's essence, as well as the essence of her two sisters, Farore and Din, is the source of the Golden Power within the omnipotent sacred relic, the Triforce.[1][5] Her crest is the Mark of Nayru.

At the dawn of existence, Nayru, along with Din and Farore, descended upon the void that was to become the land of Hyrule, each of them creating a different facet of the realm. According to Ocarina of Time, Nayru "poured her wisdom onto the earth and gave the spirit of law to the world."[2] Upon departure, the three goddesses created the Triforce, the embodiment of their divine essence, and left it within the Sacred Realm.[6]

Nayru's divine essence is what constitutes the Triforce of Wisdom, which affords Princess Zelda her great wisdom and mystical abilities. To a much smaller extent, Nayru's essence can also be invoked by a powerful sorcerer. Her essence provides a protective shield of light when the spell Nayru's Love is cast.[7]

Nayru, the Goddess of Wisdom, is revered for establishing the physical and meta-physical laws of Hyrulean existence, as well as being the designer of space-time itself.[2][3] She is commonly associated with the element of water, and thus she is worshiped as a Goddess of the Seas and other great bodies of water, such as Lake Hylia. Because of her part in creating the laws of the realm, Nayru is possibly also the one worshiped as the Goddess of Time, as referred to in Majora's Mask. Through her association with water, symbols and talismans meant to evoke Nayru are often colored blue.

Of all the races in the Hyrulean realm, the essence of Nayru is best personified by the Zoras. These fish-like, humanoid, water-dwellers are known for their hierarchical form of government, as well as their stoicism and their great wisdom. Though they are native to Zora's Domain, Zoras are found within waterways throughout the Lanayru Province, even as far south as Lake Hylia.

Nayru is commonly associated with string instruments, such as the harp, and singing.

## Farore

Farore is one of the three Golden Goddesses who created the realm of Hyrule (along with parallel realms, such as the Sacred Realm).[4] She is the source of all life that exists within the Hyrulean realm.[5] Farore's essence, as well as the essence of her two sisters Din and Nayru, is the source of the Golden Power within the omnipotent sacred relic, the Triforce.[1][6] Her crest is the Mark of Farore.

At the dawn of time, Farore, along with her sisters, Din and Nayru, descended upon the chaos that was to become the land of Hyrule, each of them creating a different facet of the realm. According to Ocarina of Time, Farore, "with her rich soul, produced all life forms who would uphold the law."[2] Upon departure, they created the Triforce, the essence of their power, and left it within the Sacred Realm.[7]

Farore's divine essence is what constitutes the Triforce of Courage, which affords Link his great courage and mystical abilities. To a much smaller extent, Farore's essence can also be invoked by a powerful sorcerer. Farore's essence is often represented by wind as exemplified in the spell Farore's Wind.[8]

Farore is the creator of all life that exists within the Hyrulean realm.[2][5] Because of her role in creating all life, Farore is associated with regions that flourish with life, namely forests, such as the Lost Woods and the Faron Woods. She also is worshiped as the Goddess of the Winds as referred to in The Wind Waker,[3] and her essence is represented by the winds. Through her association with the forest, symbols and talismans meant to evoke Farore are often colored green.

Although Farore is the creator of all of the races in the Hyrulean realm, Farore is most closely associated with forest-dwellers such as the Kokiri and the Deku due to the fact that she has a "rich soul"; children are said to be innocent caring beings with high inner awareness. Fittingly for the Goddess of the Wind, Farore is commonly associated with wind instruments, such as the ocarina or flute.