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The Earth Temple is a recurring Dungeon in The Legend of Zelda series.[1]

Overview[]

The Wind Waker[]

Entrance to the Temple[]

It is located leagues beneath the Great Sea, directly below Headstone Island, in the now-sunken realm of Hyrule.[2] The main item obtained is the Mirror Shield, and its boss is Jalhalla.

Both the Earth Temple and the Wind Temple were constructed to safeguard the power to repel evil within the Master Sword, by providing a place for the two Sages to offer up their prayers to the Golden Goddesses.[2] The prayer song for the Sage of Earth was the Earth God's Lyric. When Ganondorf escaped to the surface of the ocean, he sought a way to deactivate the Master Sword.[3][4] He invaded the Earth Temple and murdered the Sage of Earth, the Zora known as Laruto.[5]

It was here that Laruto's spirit lingered on, awaiting the time when a new Hero armed with the Master Sword would come with a successor Sage to restore its power, and destroy the evil that now haunted the temple.[6]

Link comes to investigate what had become of the Sages of the Master Sword, and to restore the Master Sword’s power. He brings Laruto’s predestined successor, a Rito by the name of Medli, with him. Medli bears a harp identical to Laruto's, and they both play the Earth God's Lyric to break down the Stone Tablet that blocks the entrance to the Earth Temple.[7]

Inside the dark and eerie temple, Medli proves very useful in that she can fly, as well as reflect light off her harp.[8][9] Her harp is Link's only way of reflecting light until he finds the Mirror Shield, after defeating a group of Stalfos deep within the temple's interior. The pair works together to cleanse the temple of the evil monsters infesting it, and works their way to its deepest recesses, where they discover the entrance to the shrine chamber of Sage of Earth. Link enters the room and defeats Jalhalla using the Mirror Shield.[10]

After Link defeats Jalhalla, Medli enters the chamber and plays the Earth God's Lyric with Link, who conducts with the Wind Waker. This causes Laruto to appear one final time to play alongside them. This song restores part of the Master Sword's former power, and releases Laruto from her obligations, allowing her spirit to finally rest in peace.[11] Medli remains in the Sage shrine and sends Link back above ground to seek out the Wind Temple, where he could restore the Master Sword to its full power.[12]

Themes and Navigation[]

LinkMS

Link using the Mirror Shield to reflect light onto one of the Earth Temple's many Sun-Moon statues

There is a great focus on the duality of light and darkness which is portrayed throughout the temple. Much of the temple appears to be nothing short of a large tomb, with many coffins (several of which contained ReDeads) adorning walls and hallways. This is a trait shared with the Shadow Temple of Ocarina of Time as it too was, for all intents and purposes, a large tomb (the "House of the Dead," by name). The temple was constructed of many blocks and tiles, and was riddled with statues related to the fusion of the Sun and Moon, perhaps hinting at the duality of light and darkness, or of day and night. There are also several rooms that have large, scorpion-shaped mirrors, which are used to reflect light onto some of the statues, in order to open the way forward into the temple's deepest recesses.

As Link and Medli make their way through the temple, they will encounter several Stone Tablets similar to the one encountered at the entrance, which can only be destroyed when the young duo play together the Earth God's Lyric. The Command Melody is also heavily used by Link in order to control Medli to reach places that Link would otherwise be unable to reach, as well as to use her harp's ability to reflect light.[8][9] One very important element to completing the temple is the ability to reflect and control the flow of light. This underscores the importance of the temple's primary treasure, the Mirror Shield, in the way that the item is required at certain points, since it may take more than one reflection to proceed forward, as well the fact that the ability to reflect light is key to defeating the evil boss of the temple, Jalhalla.

Small Keys[]
  • There are three small keys.
Minor Enemies and Traps[]

Skyward Sword[]

Entrance to the Temple[]

The Earth Temple is a fire-based dungeon located up Eldin Volcano. Link visits the temple to locate the Earth Spring where Zelda is said to be cleansing herself.[13] However, before Link can enter, he must find five key pieces to the temple using Fi's Dowsing abilities, as hinted by a conversation between Ledd and Cobal.[14][15][16][17] The key pieces can be found in soft spots which Link can dig up with the Digging Mitts. The spots are: near the temple's entrance, beneath a wooden watchtower southwest from the temple's entrance, behind a bombable wall in the middle of the inclined sandy road in the center, in a rocky area accessible through a couple of geysers near the end of the western slippery sandy road, and within a bombable wall inside a lava-filled cave accessible after crossing the aforementioned western sandy road.

Themes and Navigation[]

Like Skyview Temple, the Earth Temple shows signs of deterioration. It comprises only five (albeit cavernous) rooms, the fewest of any dungeon in the game.

A major part of the temple is traversed by logrolling on a large stone eyeball, as most of the central room and the east area is filled with lava. This ball must be released by shooting at the pockets containing Bomb Flowers. Enemies such as Fire Keese and Magma Spume will try to knock the young hero off the stone eyeball. Magma Spume can be rolled over and killed using the eyeball.

Lizalfos also appear frequently, and a pair of them are fought as the dungeon's minibosses. The dungeon's treasure is the Bomb Bag. It originally belonged to Ledd; the Mogma gives it to Link for helping him.[18][19] The dungeon is filled with Bomb Flowers, which can be used to solve puzzles or fill the Bomb Bag. The Boss of the Earth Temple is Scaldera, set upon Link by Ghirahim.[20][21]

Minor Enemies[]

Trivia[]

  • According to the King of Red Lions, the Earth and Wind Temples once had two entrances: one in Hyrule and one in the mountaintops of Hyrule, which are now the islands above the sea; however, the entrance to the temples from Hyrule were blocked by Ganon's magic.[22]
  • The Earth Temple has an Eastern design resembling Mongolian temples and sanctuaries In a similar fashion to the Ancient Cistern, the statues found throughout the temple are inspired by Buddhist and Hindu iconography. In particular, the three-eyed and dragon-like statues are akin to wrathful deities or demons depicted in imagery associated with both religions. The elephant statues near the entrance of the temple also have a symbolic connection to Buddhism and Hinduism.

Nomenclature[]

TMC Forest Minish Artwork Names in other regions TMC Jabber Nut Sprite
LanguageNameMeaning
JapanJapanese大地の神殿 (Daichi no Shinden) (SSHD)[23]Temple of Earth
NetherlandsDutchTempel der Aarde (SSHD)[24]Temple of Earth
GermanyGermanTempel des Erdlandes (SS)Temple of the Land
This table was generated using translation pages.
To request an addition, please contact a staff member with a reference.

Gallery[]

References

  1. Encyclopedia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 152 (TWW) & 157 (SS)
  2. 2.0 2.1 "The fact that the Master Sword lost the power to repel evil suggests to me that something has happened to the sages who infused the blade with the gods’ power. The sages should be in Hyrule...in the Wind Temple to the north and the Earth Temple to the south, praying to the gods. You must head for these two temples to see what has happened to the sages and attempt to find a way to recover the power to repel evil. Unfortunately, Ganon seems to have erected some sort of magical barrier down here in Hyrule, blocking our path to the temples. But...each temple should have another entrance high upon Hyrule's mountaintops, which are now islands above the sea." — King of Red Lions (The Wind Waker)
  3. "Hundreds of years passed, and Ganondorf, who should have been sealed at the bottom of the ocean along with Hyrule, was resurrected once again. He gave an order to his minions to attack the Wind and Earth temples, killing the two sages whose prayers gave the Master Sword the ability to destroy evil." (Hyrule Historia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 124)
  4. "After his defeat at the hands of the Hero of Time, Ganondorf was sealed away...but not for all time." — Laruto (The Wind Waker)
  5. "He was revived, and he returned to Hyrule in a red wrath. He attacked this temple and stole my soul, knowing that he had to remove the power contained in that enchanted blade." — Laruto (The Wind Waker)
  6. "In order to return the power to repel evil to your sword, you must find another to take my stead in this temple and ask the gods for their assistance." — Laruto (The Wind Waker)
  7. "You must find the one who carries on my bloodline... The one who holds this sacred instrument..." — Laruto (The Wind Waker)
  8. 8.0 8.1 "And if Link presses A Button, allow him to lift you, and if need be, fly and carry him through the air." — King of Red Lions (The Wind Waker HD)
  9. 9.0 9.1 "It seems like the instrument I'm carrying can reflect light! This can help, I think! Instruct me where to reflect the light, and use A Button to face my instrument in that direction." — Medli (The Wind Waker HD)
  10. "The temple ahead is the nest of an evil creature...the same creature that stole the life of your predecessor, the sage." — King of Red Lions (The Wind Waker)
  11. "The prayers of the Earth Sage have restored the Master Sword's former energy! There is but one last step before it becomes the true Master Sword once again!" — N/A (The Wind Waker)
  12. "Now, Link... Step into the light behind you and return to the surface. Your next duty is to find the sage of the Wind Temple. I will remain here and continue to pray. You must hurry!" — Medli (The Wind Waker)
  13. "The spirit maiden who descended from the clouds must travel to two sacred places to purify her body. You stand in one of these places: Skyview Spring. The other is known as the Earth Spring. This second spring is hidden away deep within the scorched earth of Eldin The spirit maiden, ever mindful of the heavy task entrusted to her, has set out for this second sacred place.." — Fi (Skyward Sword)
  14. "Hmm... I'm sure they buried it around here someplace, but I can't find it." — Ledd (Skyward Sword)
  15. "Yo, Ledd! This is the place, ain't it? So what is buried again?" — Cobal (Skyward Sword)
  16. "A key! K-E-Y, KEY! They busted up the key to that door and hid the pieces all over the place. I'm telling you, one of the five pieces is buried right around here." — Ledd (Skyward Sword)
  17. "Master Link, I require your conformation on critical information obtainded from that Mogma conversation... I calculate there is a 95% probability that the key to this door is made of the same material composition as the mechanism that bars it. I have detected objects of the same material in the surrounding area. Ascertaining the location of these objects will aid in our search for Zelda. I have registered them as dowsing targets." — Fi (Skyward Sword)
  18. "Heyyyyy! You found my Bomb Bag!! Sorry to put you through that. I guess I owe you one now! So let me have it... What's this now?You want to borrow it so you can go deeper into the volcano?... I'm not letting you borrow my bag, though. I'm GIVING it to you! Just don't blow yourself up..." — Ledd (Skyward Sword)
  19. "You got a Bomb Bag! Ledd was kind enough to give it to you, so make sure you take good care of it." — N/A (Skyward Sword)
  20. "There's someone special I'd like you to meet... it won't take more than a few moments with my friend before you're charred to a satisfying crisp..." — Ghirahim (Skyward Sword)
  21. "Pyroclastic Fiend Scaldera" — N/A (Skyward Sword)
  22. "You must head for these two temples [...] Unfortunately, Ganon seems to have erected some sort of magical barrier down here in Hyrule, blocking our path to the temples. But...each temple should have another entrance high upon Hyrule's mountaintops, which are now islands above the sea." — King of Red Lions (The Wind Waker)
  23. "大地の神殿" — Dungeon Map (Skyward Sword HD)
  24. "Tempel der Aarde" — Dungeon Map (Skyward Sword HD)
The Legend of ZeldaThe Adventure of LinkA Link to the PastLink's AwakeningOcarina of TimeMajora's MaskOracle of AgesOracle of SeasonsFour SwordsThe Wind WakerFour Swords AdventuresThe Minish CapTwilight PrincessPhantom HourglassSpirit TracksSkyward SwordA Link Between WorldsTri Force HeroesBreath of the WildTears of the KingdomLink's Crossbow TrainingHyrule Warriors

Breath of the Wild


Main Dungeons

Divine Beast Vah Ruta  · Divine Beast Vah Rudania  · Divine Beast Vah Medoh  · Divine Beast Vah Naboris  · Hyrule Castle  · Final TrialTriforce piece (TCB)

Mini-Dungeons

Trial of the Sword (TMT ) · Yiga Clan Hideout

Ancient Shrines

Akh Va'quot · Bosh Kala · Chaas Qeta · Daag Chokah · Dagah Keek · Dah Kaso · Dah Hesho · Daka Tuss · Dako Tah · Daqa Koh ·
Daqo Chisay · Dila Maag · Dow Na'eh  · Dunba Taag · Gee Ha'rah · Gorae Torr · Ha Dahamar · Hawa Koth · Hia Miu · Hila Rao · Ishto Soh ·
Ja Baij · Jee Noh · Jitan Sa'mi · Joloo Nah · Ka'o Makagh · Kaam Ya'tak · Kah Mael Shrine · Kah Okeo Shrine · Kah Yah Shrine · Kam Urog Shrine · Katah Chuki · Katosa Aug  · Kay Noh · Kaya Wan · Kayra Mah · Ke'nai Shakah · Keeha Yoog · Keh Namut · Kema Kosassa ·
Kema Zoos · Keo Ruug · Ketoh Wawai · Korgu Chideh · Korsh O'hu · Kuh Takkar · Kuhn Sidajj · Lakna Rokee · Lanno Kooh · Maag Halan · Maag No'rah · Maka Rah · Mezza Lo · Mijah Rokee · Mirro Shaz · Misae Suma · Mo'a Keet · Mogg Latan · Monya Toma · Mozo Shenno ·
Muwo Jeem · Myahm Agana · Namika Ozz · Ne'ez Yohma · Noya Neha · Oman Au · Owa Daim · Pumaag Nitae · Qua Raym · Qaza Tokki · Qukah Nata · Raqa Zunzo · Ree Dahee · Rin Oyaa · Ritaag Zumo · Rok Uwog · Rona Kachta · Rota Ooh · Rucco Maag · Saas Ko'sah ·
Sah Dahaj · Sasa Kai · Sha Gehma · Sha Warvo · Shada Naw · Shae Katha · Shae Loya · Shae Mo'sah · Shai Utoh · Shai Yota · Shee Vaneer · Shee Venath · Sheem Dagoze · Sheh Rata · Sho Dantu · Shoda Sah · Shoqa Tatone · Shora Hah · Soh Kofi · Suma Sahma · Ta'loh Naeg ·
Tah Muhl · Tahno O'ah · Tawa Jinn · Tena Ko'sah · Tho Kayu · To Quomo · Toh Yahsa · Toto Sah · Tu Ka'loh · Tutsuwa Nima · Voo Lota ·
Wahgo Katta · Ya Naga · Yah Rin · Zalta Wa · Ze Kahso · Zuna Kai

Ancient Shrines (TCB)

Etsu Korima · Kamia Omuna · Kee Dafunia · Keive Tala · Kiah Toza · Kihiro Moh · Mah Eliya · Noe Rajee · Rinu Honika · Rohta Chigah · Ruvo Korbah · Sato Koda · Sharo Lun · Shira Gomar · Takama Shiri · Yowaka Ita


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