Shadow Temple

The Shadow Temple (闇の神殿) is the seventh dungeon from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Interestingly, the Shadow Temple's Japanese name, "Yami no Shinden", is the same name used for the Palace of Darkness in the Japanese localization of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.

Story
The Shadow Temple is one of five major temples in Hyrule that was constructed to house five of the Seven Sages. It is generally believed that the Shadow Folk, the Sheikahs, built the temple for purposes unknown. The temple lies at the back of Kakariko Graveyard in the shadow of Death Mountain. Very little of the temple is above ground, and as such, it is often referred to as the "House of the Dead". When the Phantom Shadow Beast, Bongo Bongo, breaks free from his prison at the bottom of the Well of Three Features in Kakariko Village where he was sealed years before by Impa, it retreats to a large chamber in the recesses of the Shadow Temple. Impa then goes to the temple in an attempt to seal away Bongo Bongo again. At the very bottom of the temple, Link must face Bongo Bongo with the help of the Lens of Truth and the Master Sword. Upon its defeat, the Shadow Temple is cleansed of evil and Impa awakens as the Sage of Shadow.

Dungeon
The Shadow Temple is located on the ledge in the far east side of Kakariko Graveyard and can be accessed only with the help of the "Nocturne of Shadow". The temple consists of four floors infested with ReDeads as well as the many paintings illustrating spirits which whisper clues and warnings. It includes many invisible enemies, false walls and false floors, making a near-continuous use of the Lens of Truth necessary for beginning players. Link can enter the temple both as a child and as an adult, but due to the pit at the start, which requires the Hookshot, child Link cannot advance much further.

The major prize in the Shadow Temple is the Hover Boots, which is acquired quite early by defeating the temple's mini-boss, Dead Hand. Using the Hover Boots is the only way to cross the Valley of the Dead and further explore the temple. The Iron Boots must also be used to to get across the hallways with fans to prevent being blown backwards. The temple has a prominent theme of the smiling skull or hooded skull. These can be seen in multiple pictures on the wall, and they often whisper warnings or advice that only Navi seems to be able to hear.

The temple's design is somewhat different than other temples. Instead of being a standard architectural design, the temple simply goes further and further into the ground, making it the most linear dungeon out of the five major temples, in direct contrast to the Water Temple. Often gallows and whipping posts are depicted in some of the lower chambers, sometimes with spots of blood on the ground below or near them. The dungeon also has a recurring theme of spikes and guillotines.

Near the boss chamber is a large ferry that will move when "Zelda's Lullaby" is played. While the boat is traversing a small river, a couple Stalfos appear which can either be defeated or left. Once at the other end of the river, Link must leap off to continue the way through the final area of the dungeon.

Sage

 * Impa

Items

 * Hover Boots
 * Heart Container
 * Shadow Medallion

Enemies

 * Beamos
 * Big Skulltula
 * Blade Trap
 * Blue Bubble
 * Fire Keese
 * Floormaster
 * Flying Pot
 * Gibdo
 * Gold Skulltula
 * Green Bubble
 * Infinite Hand
 * Keese
 * Like Like
 * Red Bubble
 * ReDead
 * Skulltula
 * Stalfos
 * Wallmaster

Mini-boss

 * Dead Hand

Boss

 * Bongo Bongo

Master Quest
In the Master Quest re-releases, several changes have been made to the dungeon. The Fire Arrow is necessary to solve several puzzles. The Hover Boots are found in the same area but a Small Key found deeper in the dungeon is required to get them. Many of the walls that require the Lens of Truth to see through now have added obstructions such as Breakable Walls or a Stone of Time making the Lens of Truth even more important. Unlike most dungeons in Master Quest, the order in which the rooms are visited is the same and the dungeon contains no new enemies.

Original Purpose
One theory about the original intention of the Shadow Temple is that it was built to absorb and concentrate all the "evil" and negative feelings of Hyrule such as greed, hatred, jealousy, etc.; all of which can form a breeding ground for what will come to grow into a corrupted world. Assuming that this statement is plausible, it would mean that Shadow Temple was in fact built for the purpose of preserving peace and calm in Hyrule, making sure it would remain a healthy and prosperous country by simply taking in all conceivable malice and negative emotions, and not to be a dark, twisted torture chamber which is easily assumed by the interiors and overall eerie feel the temple offers. Subsequently, this would mean that the Shadow Temple would have to reap the penalty of the wrongdoings of the entire world of Hyrule. Again, if plausible, this could certainly reduce the temple to nothing more than a frightening, distorted nightmare accordingly. This theory is based upon clues whispered by Skull Paintings in the Shadow Temple.

Because of the presence of many torture and execution devices, it is also believed that the Shadow Temple could have been used for human sacrafice. Why this potential sacrafice took place is however unknown, bringing doubt to this theory.

Temple Guardian
It is possible that the raven-like statue found all over the Shadow Temple symbolizes the dungeon's patron deity. This statue is never mentioned, but it is seen quite often throughout the temple. This raven-like being could very well be a god or goddess to the Sheikah, though neither Sheik nor Impa ever mention a patron deity of the Shadow Folk. Additionally, all of the other adult dungeons seem to have their own representations. Another fact supporting this theory is that this statue is present in the Bottom of the Well, another area that has been linked with the Sheikah.

Fourth or Fifth Temple?
There seems to be a minor contradiction in the game during indications of whether the Shadow Temple is the fourth or the fifth temple. By looking at the order of the medallions on the Quest Subscreen, it is revealed that the Spirit Temple is intended to be completed before the Shadow Temple. However, story wise, the Spirit Temple is the last major temple. The need for the Lens of Truth to cross the Haunted Wasteland and find the Spirit Temple also seems to imply that the Shadow Temple is intended to be completed before the Spirit Temple, as the Lens of Truth is acquired in the Shadow Temple section of Link's quest; however, the Hover Boots are never needed to reach or complete the Spirit Temple. In fact, most locations within Gerudo's Fortress, the Haunted Wasteland, the Desert Colossus, and the Spirit Temple where the Hover Boots may be found useful, the Longshot can be used instead, which becomes apparent at the River of Sand in the Haunted Wasteland; however, despite this lack of use of the Hover Boots within the Spirit Temple and at related locations, the Silver Gauntlets and Mirror Shield found in the Spirit Temple provide no extra assistance within the Shadow Temple.

The Shadow Temple is generally regarded as the fourth temple because Sheik, when making her original appearance, mentions each temple in what seems to be order of completion, where the Shadow Temple is mentioned before the Spirit Temple. Also, the game's official strategy guide directs readers to complete the Shadow Temple directly after completing the Water Temple.

Twili
The strange, circular symbol imprinted on the ground near the entrance to the temple greatly resembles the Mirror of Twilight. Although seemingly unlikely, it is possible that The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess drew inspiration from this symbol. If so, this furthers the theory that the Twili are indeed Sheikah.

Templo de las Sombras