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The Golden Goddesses are Din, the Goddess of Power, Nayru, the Goddess of Wisdom, and Farore, the Goddess of Courage, the chief gods and creators of Hyrule. It is understood that the Golden Goddesses have always existed, and that they are omnipotent and eternal. Though the Golden Goddesses are the most important gods of Hyrule, they are rarely mentioned by characters in the games, and most races worship their own patron deities.

Cosmogenesis
The three deities of Power, Wisdom, and Courage are first mentioned in the manual of A Link to the Past, though in that instance they were not yet given names. The Golden Goddesses would first be called by name in Ocarina of Time, wherein the Great Deku Tree reveals to Link the cosmogony of the realm. It is explained that the three Goddesses are responsible for the existence of Hyrule and the Sacred Realm, and all their inhabitants. It is revealed that before time began and the cosmos was a void of chaos, the three Goddesses appeared amidst the chaos and began the creation of Hyrule. Din created the material realm, Nayru gave the realm order, and Farore created all life forms. It is also revealed that the essence of the Golden Goddesses is the source of the Golden Power within the sacred relic, the Triforce.

Din, The Goddess of Power
"Din... With her strong flaming arms, cultivated the land and created the red earth."

- Ocarina of Time Din created the bare earth and shaped the featureless land, forming its topography. Her labors produced the towering mountains, profound chasms, and great expanses of Hyrule's topography. With her work completed, from an ingot of her infinite celestial power, Din formed the Triforce of Power, the embodiment of her supremacy. Whosoever would hold this relic would be imbued with the essence of Din, granting its holder her blessing, and power unmatched by any mortal. When the Gerudo King Ganondorf sought to abstract the Golden Power from its resting place, he failed to procure the sacred Triforce in its entirety and it split into its three elements. Believing in his heart that power was the most important aspect of the Triforce, he was left with the Triforce of Power, and the blessing of Din. Nevertheless, this made him immensely powerful, granting him vast strength, and amplifying his mystical power. Using the power of Din, Ganondorf intended to conquer Hyrule, gain the complete Triforce, and with the power of the Goddesses, recreate the realm to fit his desires.

Nayru, The Goddess of Wisdom
"Nayru... Poured out her wisdom onto the land, and gave it the spirit of law."

- Ocarina of Time

Nayru is the source of the laws that govern the realm in which Hyrule exists. Once her sister Din had completed the creation of the physical realm, Nayru began establishing order within the realm. Nayru illuminated the firmament of the sphere with her divine wisdom, and founded the fundamental laws of the realm. Once she had finished, taking a thread of her wisdom in hand, Nayru formed the Triforce of Wisdom, the embodiment of her omniscience. Whomever would possess the Triforce of Wisdom would be instilled with the essence of Nayru, and her blessing, granting them wisdom unparalleled. When the sacred Triforce was split into its three virtues, the Triforce of Wisdom eluded Ganon, and sought a worthy holder, namely, the Princess of Destiny, Princess Zelda.

Farore, The Goddess of Courage
"Farore... With her rich soul, produced all life forms who would uphold the law."

- Ocarina of Time

Farore is the source of all life that exists within the Hyrulean realm. Once her sisters had finished creating a realm suitable for sustaining life, Farore created the life forms that would inhabit it. Farore breathed life onto the barren earth and into the seas, creating grasses, trees, vines, and all other manner of vegetation, transforming the barren plains into verdant fields, and flourishing woodlands abound with animal life. Farore then formed all of the diverse people of Hyrule. With her works completed, Farore drew a portion of her divine spirit, and produced the Triforce of Courage. The holder of the Triforce of Courage would be imbued with the blessings of Farore, and valor unrivaled by any other. When the Triforce divided into its three aspects, the Triforce of Courage was bestowed upon the Hero, Link, in merit of his great courage. Though he knew little of its true nature, the divine relic aided Link in his quest to defeat Ganon and restore peace to Hyrule.

The Nature of the Goddesses
The nature of the Golden Goddesses is often speculated upon by fans of the series. It is widely believed that the Goddesses are benevolent, though some speculate that the Goddesses are of neutral alignment. However, there are events that occur that would call the Goddesses alignment into question. For example, the events within the Arbiter's Grounds (prior to the events of Twilight Princess); when the Sages attempted to execute Ganondorf, it appeared as though Din granted Ganondorf her power, preventing the execution from being performed. However, it is inferred that Ganondorf already possessed the Triforce of Power prior to the Sages execution attempt, and the Sages underestimated him. Furthermore, Ganondorf explains that being near the portal to the Twilight Realm, which was full of hatred and malice, revitalized him.

Another event that calls the nature of the Goddesses into question is in the events preceding the The Wind Waker. Ganon returned, and he made another attempt to take over Hyrule; however, the Hero of prophecy did not appear. To prevent Ganon from conquering Hyrule and turning it into a land of despair, the Goddesses flooded Hyrule, drowning all but a few, whom had fled to the mountaintops by the order of the Goddesses. This event makes it appear as though the Goddesses denote the lives of mortals as expendable. Near the end of the The Wind Waker, Ganon laughs at the King of Hyrule, stating that the Goddesses destroyed their own chosen people. However, it is also important to remember that the Goddesses appoint the Link. It is further explained in the prologue for A Link to the Past that, unlike Triforce and mortals, the Goddesses possess the ability to judge good from evil.

Appearances
In their first appearance, in Ocarina of Time, the Goddesses Din, Nayru, and Farore are depicted as a golden figures surrounded by a red, blue, and green auras, respectively. However, in later titles, monuments representing the Goddesses (such as the statues of the Golden Goddesses in the throne room of Hyrule Castle in Twilight Princess) give a more detailed appearance. The Goddess Statues in The Wind Waker appear similar to the Oracles Din, Nayru, and Farore who are all named after the Goddesses. Furthermore, the Great Fairies of Four Swords and The Minish Cap strongly resemble both the Goddesses and the Oracles.