What role do the goddesses play?
The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword's box art, which was revealed today, features something resembling a magic circle, behind Link and Phi. This circle contains three emblems, which may be familiar to Zelda players. These emblems appeared on the Goddess Pearls in The Wind Waker, as well as in Oracle of Ages where they represented tunes played on the Harp of Ages.
The intricate design also contains Hylian script. Translating to English results in the following, clockwise from the top left:
Wisdom, Nehru, Power, Din, (obscured), (obscured)rol
Clearly, it should be "Wisdom, Nayru, Power, Din, Courage, Farore," but I guess something got lost in localization. In any case, the names, symbols, and powers of the three Hylian goddesses, Nayru, Din, and Farore, are all emblazoned on the box art, implying some major significance in Skyward Sword.
The three goddesses were named in The Ocarina of Time as the creators of Hyrule, who left behind the Triforce upon their departure. Eiji Aonuma has stated that in Skyward Sword, prequel to The Ocarina of Time, "the Triforce sort of takes on a different meaning and plays a different role in the story." Nothing has been said about the goddesses, but it appears that they or their power will instead be a focal point, and perhaps this is partly what Aonuma was referring to.
Goddesses fan art by Raidiance.
