Zonai

The are a recurring group of people referenced in.

Although the Zonai people are never actually seen or mentioned in, aside from implications from their architecture and the Barbarian Armor— the only explicit instance of "Zonai" in that game is the name of the Zonai Ruins location— their existence as an ancient people and backstory was expanded upon in. The Zonai are further elaborated upon in, with them making an in-person appearance for the first time.

Characteristics
The NaN Zonais were a powerful Series:-wielding tribe of people. They were rumored to be barbaric and are accordingly spoken of only in whispers. It is not known what the Series: looked like, as no confirmed records of their appearance are available.

The Series: is an Series: that belonged to an ancient, warlike tribe from the Series: Series:. Though no direct connection between this warlike tribe and the NaN Zonais has been made, the three pieces of the Series: are found in the NaN Lomei Labyrinths which bear key features of Series: architecture. If these are indeed Series: artifacts, this may indicate that the Series: had humanoid forms.

reveals that the Zonai had an animalistic appearance with vaguely sheep-like features and very large ears. Contrary to their previous depiction, they are shown to have had a highly advanced civilization in the sky and were viewed by the Hylians as gods. One of them, Rauru, took a Hylian woman named Sonia as his wife, and together they founded the kingdom of Hyrule.

No records remain of the history of the NaN Zonais. However, it is known that they suddenly disappeared thousands of years prior to the Series:. Many of their ruins seem to have been built in relation to the NaN Ancient Shrines, which date back to the Series: estimated to be roughly 10,000 years prior to the Series:.

The exact role of the NaN Zonais in is not presently known. However, their symbolism can be found throughout the NaN Sky Islands and beneath the surface of TotK:. This was first made explicit with the new TotK: enemies who appear to be of Zonai origin, dropping the TotK: item upon defeat.

In the First Look Trailer, TotK: and TotK: are seen exploring a vast cave system which has many TotK:-made stone monuments, such as pillars and animal carvings. In the E3 2021 Teaser trailer, TotK: is seen using a TotK: attached to a TotK: that resembles a TotK: TotK: head sculpture to blow TotK: onto an unnamed TotK:. He is also seen traveling through various NaN Sky Islands with architecture resembling TotK: construction.



In the Official Trailer #1, TotK: can be seen pushing open a pair of great stone doors carved with bas-relief NaN Dragons facing each other. Beyond these great doors are stone sculptures of TotK: heads, facing outward. TotK: can also be seen falling from the TotK:, landing on an unnamed TotK:-shaped TotK: while gliding toward a glowing megastructure on TotK:. In the Official Trailer #2, more glowing megastructures can be seen throughout TotK:, as well as green, circling wisps emanating from rocks. These wisps resemble the green energy emitted from the hand shown in the First Look Trailer. TotK: can be seen riding on TotK: through light-colored grass in TotK:, where another glowing megastructure could be seen in the previous trailer. A glowing megastructure is also shown on the hillside west of TotK:. TotK: is also seen collecting the pieces to a vehicle, which is later shown to be loosely constructed by binding a green viscous substance with wooden supports. The front wheels to this vehicle are covered with jade TotK: heads. A balloon constructed in a similar fashion is also shown, alongside a hovercraft vehicle consisting of a platform connecting the green viscous substance to four high-power ducted fans.

Culture
As the NaN Zonais disappeared long before the events of, the only known remnants of their civilization are the many ruins they left behind throughout Series:. Series: architecture appears to have been based heavily on pre-Columbian.

Zonai constructed NaN Zonai Towers across Series:, though their purpose is unknown. They may have been used for magical purposes, although it is impossible to confirm this idea. For some reason, though they are known as NaN Zonai Towers, they resemble contemporary Series: architecture.

Several NaN Items, NaN Objects, and mechanical creatures bearing TotK: motifs appear in. These are as follows:

Symbolism
The NaN Zonais made use of a unique spiral symbol, which can be found on most objects related to them. The BotW: crest appears on the 65 NaN Cube Patterns found throughout BotW: in. The Series: spiral pattern can also be seen on the tiles along roads once populated by the NaN Zonais.

The NaN Zonais depicted each piece of the Series: with a different animal relating to its qualities. The Series: was represented by NaN Boars, an animal heavily associated with Series: who received the Series: during the Series:. The Series: was represented by NaN Owls, which have real-world symbolism attached to wisdom and knowledge. The Series: was represented by NaN Dragons. As the NaN Zonais also worshiped a water Series:, NaN Dragons are the most numerous animals depicted among the three with a large collection of them throughout and leading to their palace surrounding the Series:.

There are seven known statues of NaN Boars throughout Series: in : beside the road northwest of the BotW:, in the southern part of BotW:, beside BotW:, in the BotW: northeast of BotW:, in the pond west of BotW:, in BotW:, and in BotW:.

23 Series: statues can be found throughout Series: in : two Series: statues appear at the start of the road east of BotW:, three in BotW:, one at BotW:, two at BotW:, one in the BotW:, two at the entrance to the BotW:, one in the BotW: surrounding the BotW:, and 11 inside the BotW:.

A total of 90 BotW: statues can be found in : six at the BotW:, four in the road from BotW: to the BotW:, 30 inside the BotW:, and 50 along the path leading up to the BotW:.

Symbols of Series: are often used in pairs, with their heads facing opposite directions. This motif can be seen most notably on many pillars and on the walls of the NaN Lomei Labyrinths, as well as in the logo and throughout the NaN Sky Islands of. Lotus petals are commonly used in Series: architecture, adorning walls and towers. In, lotus buds also appear prominently throughout the NaN Sky Islands and within a new symbol combining an TotK: with spread wings, similar to the TotK:.

Religion
The NaN Zonais were known to worship the Series:, though they often used their own visual language to represent the three pieces. In addition, the NaN Zonais worshiped a water Series: and constructed several Series: statues along the Series: leading to their palace.

Language
In, glyphs resembling appear throughout the various structures on the NaN Sky Islands in the TotK: that resemble TotK: architecture. These glyphs have not been deciphered, however. These glyphs can also be seen in the teal wisps emanating from the mysterious arm that holds TotK:'s body and from TotK:'s right arm when it glows the same color.

Geography
The Series: in Series: are believed to be the home of the NaN Zonais, as a large amount of ruins can be found spread throughout the jungles of the Series: Series:. However, several other NaN Zonai Ruins with Zonai architecture can be found throughout Hyrule. Some of these NaN Zonai Ruins seem to have been built in relation to other ancient peoples, such as the Series: Series: located within the water Series: shrine in their palace in the Series:.

Curiously, the modern BotW: ruins in BotW: as well as the NaN Ancient Hylian Ruins, recognizable through their BotW: motifs and fluted columns, at the base of the BotW:, overlooking the BotW: from the southern hill, at the BotW:, and at BotW: are labeled as BotW: on the map's legend on pages 412 and 413 of.

Members
The NaN Zonais disappeared from Series: thousands of years prior to the Series: and no records of them exist. As a result of this, no members other than Rauru and Mineru are known.

Nomenclature
According to Senior Lead Artist, Makoto Yonezu, the name "BotW:" is an anagram of the Japanese word.