Golden Goddess

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, omniscient, and eternal. Though there are many deities in the realm of Hyrule (various races and groups have various gods that they worship), the Golden Goddesses are the chief gods of Hyrule. However, the Goddesses are seldom mentioned in-game, and it seems that few people in Hyrule are aware of their existence. Nevertheless, they are by far the most important dieties in the mythos.

Cosmogenesis
The three deities of Power, Wisdom, and Courage are first mentioned in 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 the realm of Hyrule (along with parrallel realms, such as the Sacred Realm), and all it's inhabitants. It is revealed that before time began, when the cosmos was a void of chaos, the three Goddesses arived and began the creation of Hyrule. Din created the material realm, Nayru set in place the physical and meta-physical laws, 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.

The Nature of the Goddesses
The nature of the Golden Goddesses is often speculated upon by fans of the series. It is generally assumed that the Goddesses are good, considering that no evidence lends to the assumption that they are evil, and some speculate that the Goddesses are of neutral allignment. However, there are events that occur that would call the Goddesses alignment into question. For example, the events that occurred 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.

Considering that no other evidence supports the idea of Din (or any of the Goddesses for that matter) being of evil allignment, naturally there are numerous valid arguments as to why Ganondorf came into the possession of the Triforce of Power. One valid argument (and the most widely accepted one) is that Ganondorf already possessed the Triforce of Power prior to the Sages execution attempt, and the Sages underestimated him. Another argument that is similar to the prior, is that being near the Arbiters Grounds, a prison wherein many criminals were executed, and being near the portal to the Twilight Realm, which was full of hatred and malice, invigorated him, and allowed him to use the Triforce of Power that he already possessed.

Another event that calls the nature of the Goddesses into question is in the events preceeding the Wind Waker. Ganon returned, an he made another attempt to take over Hyrule. However, the Hero of prophecy did not appear, and so to prevent Ganon from conquering Hyrule and making it a land of dispair, the Goddesses flooded Hyrule, drowning all but a few, whom had fled to the mountaintops, which became islands in the Great Sea. This event makes it appear as though the Goddesses denote the lives of mortals as expendable. Near the end of the Wind Waker, Ganon laughs at the King of Hyrule, stating that the Goddesses destroyed their own chosen people. Nevertheless, it is likely that the Goddesses drowned Hyrule for the greater good.

It is important to remember that the Goddesses are the ones who appoint the Hero, and that they support the Hero throughout his quest. It should also be noted that in the events prior to the Wind Waker, the Goddesses clearly showed preference towards good. They opposed Ganon, the King of Evil, when he attempted to conquer Hyrule, and when the Hero did not appear, they flooded Hyrule to prevent Ganon from ruling it (Though this event in itself cost many lives, and could call the nature of the Goddesses into question. It is clear that unlike the Triforce, which is ambiguous, the Goddesses do discern between good and evil, and they generally support those of the good alignment, showing disdain towards evil.

The Goddess of Time
Another issue that it commonly debated is the identity of the Goddess of Time who is mentioned by both Princess Zelda and Tatl in Majora's Mask. While the vast majority assume that the Goddess of Time is Nayru, the Goddess of Wisdom, for reason that she is most commonly associated with the element of Time, others speculate that one of her sister Goddesses, namely Farore, may be the Goddess of Time, and an even smaller faction believe that the Goddess of Time is another being altogether. Fans who believe that Farore may be the Goddess of Time refer to the fact that Ciela from Phantom Hourglass is the Spirit of Courage and Time. However, this would not be the first time that elements, virtues, and other attributes associated with more than one diety have overlapped. For example, the Earth Sage of The Wind Waker, Laruto, is a water-dwelling Zora, an element and a race associated with Nayru, yet Laruto governs the element of Earth, which is more commonly associated with Din. In all likelyhood, as it is implied a multitude of times, Nayru is the Goddess of Time.

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

- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Din created the realm itself, and from chaos she formed the terrain of Hyrule. Din's essence is what constitutes the Triforce of Power, the embodiment of her absolute power. Her essence affords Ganon his matchless strength and mystical power. Though at a much smaller extent, Din's power can also be invoked by a powerful sorcerer. Her essence is often represented by fire as exemplified in the magic spell Din's Fire. Also, when Ganon takes on his "god" form (to do so he must use the Triforce of Power,) he is manifested as an apparation of his head, consituted of flames.

Attributes
As the Goddess of Power, Din is associated with themes that exemplify power. Most often, she is associated with the elements of fire and earth. She is implied to be the Goddess of the earth, and the Goddess of seasons. She is also associated with mountains, and more specifically volcanoes such as Death Mountain.

Of the races of Hyrule, Din's essence is most exemplified by the Goron race. These volcano-dwelling, rock-consuming golems epitomize the essence of Din; in their society, they respect power, moreover, physical strength, as demonstrated in their relentless competition with one another in tests of strength. They are the most physically capable of all the races in Hyrule, boasting superhuman strength, and nigh invulnerability, personifying the essence of Din.

Din is associated with rhythm; she is accredited to the circadian change of seasons, and she is also associated the art of dancing.

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

- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Nayru is the source of the fundamental laws that govern the realm of Hyrule.

Nayru's divine essence is what constitutes the Triforce of Wisdom, which affords Princess Zelda her great wisdom and mystical abilities. Though at a much smaller extent, Nayru's essence can also be invoked by a powerful sorcerer. Her essence provides a protective shield of light when the spell Nayru's Love is cast.

Attributes
Nayru, the Goddess of Wisdom, is revered for establishing the physical and meta-physical laws of Hyrulean existance, as well as being the designer of space-time itself. She is commonly associated with the element of water, and thusly she is worshipped as a Goddess of the Seas and other great bodies of water, such Lake Hylia. Because of her part in creating the laws of the realm, Nayru is also worshipped as the Goddess of Time (as referred to in Majora's Mask.)

Of all the races in the Hyrulean realm, the essence of Nayru is best personified by the Zoras. These fish-like, humanoid, water-dweller are known for their hierarchial form of government, as well as their stoicism and their great wisdom. Though they are native to Zora's Domain, Zoras' are found within waterways throughout the Lanayru Province, as far south as Lake Hylia.

Nayru is commonly associated with string instruments, such as the harp, and singing.

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

- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Farore is the source of all life that exists within the Hyrulean realm. Farore's essence is what constitutes the Triforce of Courage, given to the Hero, Link in merit of his his great courage. Though at a much smaller extent, Farore's essence can also be invoked by a powerful sorcerer. Farore's essence often represented by wind as exemplified in the spell Farore's Wind.

Attributes
Farore is the creator of all life that exists within the Hyrulean realm. Because of her role in creating all life, Farore is associated with the regions that flourish with life, namely forests, such as the Lost Woods. She is worshipped as the Goddess of Life, and as the Goddess of the Winds, as refered to in The Wind Waker.

Although Farore is the creator of all of the races in the Hyrulean realm, Farore is most closely associated with forest-dwellers such as the Kokiri, and the Deku. Fittingly for the Goddess of the Wind, Farore is commonly associated with wind instruments, such as the flute.

Appearances
In thier 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 games, 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. In Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons, the statues of Din, Nayru and Farore appears almost identical to the Oracles of Seasons, Ages, and Secrets,Din, the Oracle of Seasons, Nayru, and Farore who are all named after the Goddesses. The Pearl Statues in The Wind Waker, as well as the Great Butterfly Fairy and Great Fairy of Flame, all strongly resemble the Goddesses.