1) The goddess of Time's identity is Hylia.
2) Hylia powers the Timeshift Stones from Skyward Sword.
3) The Sheikah Technology in Breath of the Wild are powered by these same Timeshift Stones.
The first point is relatively simple, and its answer can be found in Skyward Sword. The goddess Hylia, like the other three goddesses, possesses divine power with an element, and her element is Time.
In the Lanayru Province, this robot confirms that the Gate of Time here was created by Hylia. The Gate of Time runs on the divine power from her since the only way to reactivate the gate located in the Sealed Temple is with a Skyward Strike from the Master Sword, a weapon she once wielded as the Goddess Sword during the Ancient Battle.Ancient Robot: This is the Temple of Time. Within it
is the sacred Gate of Time made by the
goddess, bzzt.
Now for the second point, we must establish a connection between the Sheikah, Hylia, and the Ancient Robots. Take it away, Impa:
Hylia and the Sheikah were very close, and the Sheikah would do whatever it took to protect Hylia and the land of Hyrule. Impa, of course, was tasked to watch over the Sealed Temple where the Gate of Time and the pedestal for the Master Sword resided. But what of the other Sheikah? What happened to them?Impa: Zelda, at the command of the goddess,
I passed through the Gate of Time.
I did so to protect you and aid the fight
to prevent the world's destruction.
The last remnants of Demise are
decaying slowly within the [Master Sword].
Someone must stay behind to watch
over this blade.
His spirit must not reawaken.
He must never be allowed to threaten
the world again.
This is the nature of the task given to
my tribe.
As a member of the Sheikah, the
goddess's chosen guardians, I gladly
welcome this duty.
There is some evidence suggesting that the Sheikah once resided in the Lanayru Province. The Timeshift Stones bear a mark on them that looks very similar to that of the Eye Symbol. And despite the fact that the only residents you see of the barren land are robots, there had to be someone who created them.
I posit that the Sheikah were the ones who created them, especially since one of the robots, as I've quoted before, was tasked with guarding the Temple of Time.Hundreds of years in the past, these working robots performed various tasks for the people of the region. Now they litter the mining facility, having broken down and fallen into decay long ago.
- http://www.zelda.com/skywardsword/mobile/ancient-robots.html
Now they couldn't create the robots without the help of Hylia. The Timeshift Stones not only allow the robots to be brought to life, but they also allow Link to travel back hundreds of years in the past- when Lanayru was once brimming with life and technology- something that would not be possible without the power of the goddess of Time running through these ancient relics. On a slightly unrelated note, the Timeshift Stones and Orbs do have a slight resemblance to the Shrine Orbs (AKA the Sheikah Heirloom) and the attackable Switches, but we'll get to that in a bit. For now, know that Hylia powers the Timeshift Stones the Sheikah of Lanayru Province use to create their ancient technology in order to aid the goddess.Ancient Robot: It's my job to patrol outside the temple,
vrrm! If you want to reach the Gate of
Time, you will need to pass through
that door, bzzap.
Several conclusions can be drawn from the first two points, but the one I want to focus on lies within Breath of the Wild: my third point. Regardless of whatever timeline this game supposedly takes place in, the Sheikah have remained relatively quiet across them all. There was a sudden resurgence of them 10,000 years prior to BoTW, and eventually, they crafted the Sheikah Technology Hyrule would come to use not only to improve their quality of life, but in the fight against Calamity Ganon. Now where did all this technology come from? Why was it so effective against Calamity Ganon? And most importantly, how has this technology been able to last for over 10,000 years?
Well, it's all thanks to the Timeshift Stones powered by the goddess of Time herself. It's entirely possible that the Sheikah mined these stones from deep within the caverns and mountains of Hyrule, much like the Ancient Robots did in Skyward Sword, and integrated them into their daily lives as Sheikah Technology. Immense research and money was poured into the tech until they were able to craft the Divine Beasts and Guardians to oppose Ganon. Thanks to the Hylia-patented Timeshift Stones, the ancient cores running through these machines can last for a very long- perhaps indefinite- period of time, which is why they still glow after a Guardian is destroyed. The Ancient Shrines created for the hero thousands of years ago are still intact, with all their puzzles, orbs, and switches still in their spots. This is a testament to not only the craftsmanship of the Sheikah, but the timelessness of the ancient stones powering these shrines.
Here's a video of a person defeating Beast Ganon without using the Bow of Light. Now of course, Calamity Ganon can be severly weakened by the Divine Beasts, but in this fight, he can be defeated thanks to the Ancient Arrow, which is undoubtedly the most powerful item that can be crafted with Sheikah Tech. They're the only weapons besides the Light Arrows from the Bow of Light that can damage Beast Ganon; arrows that have, mind you, the strength to smite any evil, often regarded as one of the strongest items in any Zelda game. You would need the Master Sword or an item enchanted by a goddess to compete with them: a goddess like the one who empowered the Timeshift Stones, who shared a close bond with the Sheikah, who would be reborn as Zelda time and time again...
A goddess like the goddess of Time: Hylia!
Closing Thoughts:
I've played through the main quests and DLC in BotW and have picked up on the many references to Skyward Sword. From Fi's spirit being heard in the Master Sword to the Sacred Flames theme being played when you clear the Master Trials... the list goes on. There are obviously references to the other Zelda games, but once I realized one of the major plot points was a reference to the first game chronologically in the Zelda timeline, I took that as a hint. If SS somehow took place near the end of the timeline, many would probably place BotW right after it. But I digress. Sheikah Technology is the most advanced and fascinating tech we've ever seen in a Zelda game, and I hope that we get to see more things like it in the future.
So what do you guys think of my first theory on the forums? I will do my best to respond to any criticism and rebuttals since I wish to sharpen my theorycrafting skills for the future.
Now, begin your cross-examination!
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