Zonai

The are a recurring group of people in.

Although the Zonai people are never actually seen or mentioned in, with only implications from the remains of their civilization— 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 significantly elaborated upon in, where they make an in-person appearance for the first time and are shown to have been integral to the founding of the Series: depicted in the game.

Characteristics
The NaN Zonais were a powerful Series:-wielding tribe of people. They are an ancient tribe who came from the heavens and are said to be descended from the gods. From those gods the Zonai were given the NaN Secret Stones, which could amplify an individual's magical abilities. When the Zonai first descended to the surface, the ancient Hylians mistook them as gods. The largest concentration of Zonai architecture is in the Series: Series:, with the Series: there allegedly being their home.

They were rumored to be barbaric and are accordingly spoken of only in whispers. reveals that the Zonai had an animalistic appearance with vaguely sheep-like features, very large ears, and a third eye on their foreheads. Contrary to the aforementioned rumors, they are shown to have had a highly advanced civilization in the sky and were viewed by the Hylians as gods. One of them, TotK:, took a Hylian woman named TotK: as his wife, and together they founded the kingdom of Hyrule. It is possible that Hyrule may have been destroyed once before their founding. During this time period most of the Zonai were already gone, with only Rauru and his sister TotK: remaining. 10,000 years before, the BotW: who wielded the Series: and fought beside the princess and NaN Divine Beasts to defeat Series: was a Zonai.

The Series: is an Series: that belonged to an ancient, warlike tribe from the Faron Region, possibly related to the rumors of the Zonai being barbarians. Though no explicit 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 are of Series: construction, and the Faron Region was also home to the Series:. However, the Barbarian Set does not match the visual style of other Zonai clothing.

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:.

Some backstory is given to the Zonai when TotK: and TotK: venture TotK:, where Zelda begins to recognize the signature architecture of the Zonai. She tells Link what she knows from her studies: "The Zonai are said to have lived long ago, in the time of earliest legend. They possessed godlike powers and had a prosperous civilization in the sky.: Among the only things historians knew about the Zonai is that they existed during the period where the kingdom of Hyrule was founded. The Zonai lived on the NaN Sky Islands and created NaN Constructs to serve them.

Hyrule was founded by the Zonai King, TotK: in union with the TotK: priestess TotK:. According to TotK:, during the time of their reign, Rauru and his older sister TotK: were the only remaining Zonai; what exactly happened to the other Zonai, such as if they all perished or simply returned to the sky, remains unclear. Rauru and Sonia also set up the NaN Shrine of Lights to seal away monsters. During the TotK:, Rauru sacrificed himself to seal Ganondorf underground, while Mineru placed her soul within the TotK: which was given to a TotK: for safekeeping.

Following Rauru's imprisoning of Ganondorf underground, his people construct Hyrule Castle atop the Demon King to keep him sealed, the castle remains intact and undestroyed for ages until it is damaged for the first time during the Great Calamity 100 years prior to the TotK:.

The fact that Rauru and Sonia are seen along Hylians using Zonai designs as well as TotK:'s research that the TotK: were not built by Zonai but by contemporary Hylians to commemorate the sages may indicate that some ruins previously thought to be Zonai in origin may have actually belonged to associated Hylians.

The TotK:'s appearance somewhat resembles that of a Zonai and his armor is identical to the TotK:, but given his slightly different features and the fact that he lived during the first TotK: only 10,000 years prior, this remains unconfirmed.

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 TotK:, TotK:, and the TotK: are known.

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