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ALttP Sacred Grove Artwork

The Prophecy of the Great Cataclysm is written on the Master Sword's pedestal.

The Great Cataclysm is mentioned in a prophecy of the Seven Sages that is referred to in A Link to the Past.[1][2] At the conclusion of the Imprisoning War, which took place ages before the events covered in the game, the Seven Sages sealed the entrance to the Dark World, keeping Ganon restrained within the realm, although the Triforce was still in his possession. The Cataclysm refers to a series of actions on Ganon's part, aiming with them to break the Seal of the Seven Sages and conquer Hyrule. Another part of the prophecy mentions that a hero is going to appear and defeat Ganon.

Overview[]

Ganon, who possesses the Triforce but had been sealed in the Dark World by the Seven Sages,[3][4] abducts seven maidens descended from the Sages, using the dark wizard Agahnim as his alter ego.[5][6] The maiden in Skull Woods mentions that a hero is destined to appear and face the person that unleashed the Great Cataclysm. This hero must be descended from the Knights of Hyrule that protected Hylian royalty in the Imprisoning War.[7][8][9]

According to writing engraved on the Pedestal of the Master Sword, the Hylians foretold that a descendant of the Knights of Hyrule would pull the sword.[10][11] When the hero Link discovers the Master Sword in the Sacred Grove, he is probably the last of the line of the knights, which had been nearly wiped out in the Imprisoning War.[12][13]

Aginah in the Desert of Mystery explains that according to the prophecy, Link, if indeed is the hero that will defeat Ganon, has to use the book of Mudora, in order for him to be able to read the ancient language of the Hylians.[14]

Trivia[]

  • In the instruction manual for Link's Awakening, another reference to the prophecy is made. Link "fulfilled the Hyrulean prophecy of the Legendary Hero and destroyed the evil tyrant Ganon."[15]

Nomenclature[]

TMC Forest Minish Artwork Names in Other Regions TMC Jabber Nut Sprite
Language Name Meaning
Italian Republic Italian Grande Cataclisma Great Cataclysm

External links[]

References

  1. "I am Aginah. I sense something is happening in the Golden Land the seven wise men sealed... This must be an omen of the Great Cataclysm foretold by the people of Hylian blood..." — Aginah (A Link to the Past)
  2. "My name is Azinar. It seems that something is happening inside the sacred land that the Seven Sages sealed... A prediction handed down among the descendants of the Hylians, starting with the Seven Sages, tells of a "Great Catastrophe"." — Aginah (A Link to the Past, Japanese version)
  3. "The hero fails. Ganondorf steals the Triforces of Wisdom and Courage and transforms into the Dark Beast Ganon. The Seven Sages, including Princess Zelda, seal the unified Triforce and Ganon in the Sacred Realm." (Encyclopedia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 11)
  4. "By invading the Sacred Realm and touching the Triforce, Ganondorf transforms the realm into the Dark World. It overflows with malice and becomes the domain of monsters." (Encyclopedia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 29)
  5. "I never imagined a boy like you could give me so much trouble. It's unbelievable that you defeated my alterego, Agahnim the Dark Wizard, twice!" — Ganon (A Link to the Past)
  6. "Agahnim kidnapped seven maidens who descended from the sages, sacrificing all but Zelda to the Dark World." (Encyclopedia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 24)
  7. "Do you know the prophecy of the Great Cataclysm? This is the way I heard it... If a person with an evil heart gets the Triforce, a Hero is destined to appear...and he alone must face the person who unleashed the Great Cataclysm. If the evil one destroys the Hero, nothing can save the world from his wicked reign. Only a member of the Knights of Hyrule, who protected the Hylian royalty, can become the Hero... You are of their bloodline, aren't you? Then you must rescue Zelda without fail!" — Maiden (A Link to the Past)
  8. "…『オオイナル ワザワイ』の予言は知っていますか?私は、こうきいています…。 もしも、悪しき心をもつ者がトライフォースを手にするならば、『勇者』が必ず現れ、この『オオイナル ワザワイ』のもととなる者をうつであろうしかし、『勇者』が倒れた時は悪しき心の者に世界は、おおわれてしまうであろう、と…。 そう、『勇者』になれるのは、ハイリアの王家を守っていたナイトの一族の者だけのはず… あなたは、その血をひいていたのね。 ゼルダ姫を必ず救ってあげてね。 (Do you know the prophesy of the "Great Catastrophe"? I heard it like this... 'If one with an evil heart claims the Triforce, a "Hero" will unfailingly appear, and shall defeat the one who will become the origin of this "Great Catastrophe". However, if the "Hero" were to fall, the world would be engulfed by the evil-hearted one'... Yes, the only ones who are supposed to be able to become the "Hero" are those of the Knight Family that protected the Hylian royal family... You carry their blood, don't you. Make sure to rescue Princess Zelda.) " — Maiden (A Link to the Past, Japanese version)
  9. "The knight clan from which Link descended had protected the royal family and served as the shields of the sages during the Imprisoning War. It was prophesied that a hero would emerge from this clan. Link obtained the necessary qualities of courage, power, and wisdom in the form of pendants, and deep within the Sacred Grove, he drew the Master Sword, which recognized him as the fated hero." (Encyclopedia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 226)
  10. "The Hero's triumph on Cataclysm's Eve wins three symbols of virtue. The Master Sword he retrieves, keeping the Knight's line true." — Pedestal of the Master Sword (A Link to the Past)
  11. "『オオイナル ワザワイ』のふりかかる時、3つの紋章をかかげし『勇者』来たりて、その手で、この剣を引きめくであろう。その者ナイトの一族の血をひく者なり。 (When the "Great Catastrophe" befalleth, the "Hero" carrying three crests shall come, and by those hands shall he draw out this sword. That person will be one who doth carry the blood of Knight Family.) " — Pedestal of the Master Sword (A Link to the Past, Japanese version)
  12. "I heard that the Knights Of Hyrule were nearly wiped out in that battle... You are perhaps the last one to carry on the blood-line of the Knights... It is ironic that the last one in the line has the potential to become the Hero of legend." — Maiden (A Link to the Past)
  13. "Vile demons poured out of the Sacred Realm, which had been turned into the Dark World [...] by Ganon's evil heart. The Seven Sages of that era sealed the realm in a ferocious battle known as the Imprisoning War. The clan of knights tasked with guarding the sages was nearly wiped out in the process." (Encyclopedia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 24)
  14. "The prophecy says, "The Hero will stand in the desert holding the Book Of Mudora." If you have the Book Of Mudora you can read the language of the Hylia People. It should be in the house of books in the village...You must get it! If you are the person who will be The Hero..." — Aginah (A Link to the Past)
  15. "Though you fulfilled the Hyrulean prophecy of the Legendary Hero and destroyed the evil tyrant Ganon, the land of Hyrule enjoyed only a precarious peace." (Link's Awakening manual, pg. 4)
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