Hylian Crest: Difference between revisions

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:''Not to be confused with the [[Royal Crest]]''.
:''Not to be confused with the [[Royal Crest]]''.
[[File:Hylian Symbol.png|right|250px|The Hylian symbol.]]
[[File:Hylian Symbol.png|right|250px|The Hylian symbol.]]
'''The Hylian Crest'''<ref>{{cite|A shield with a Hylian crest. Defend against attacks with [Z]. It's metal and will never burn.|[[Hylian Shield]] item description|Twilight Princess}}</ref> is a common engraving or depiction of an archaic bird or dragon, usually beneath the [[Triforce]], and can be seen on the [[Hylian Shield]], around [[Hyrule Castle]], and at the [[Temple of Time]]. This crest is mostly used to represent the [[Hylian]] race as a whole. A variation of the crest with a Triforce in the place of the bird's head is commonly used to represent the [[Royal Family of Hyrule]].
'''The Hylian Crest'''<ref>{{cite|A shield with a Hylian crest. Defend against attacks with [Z]. It's metal and will never burn.|[[Hylian Shield]] item description|Twilight Princess}}</ref> is one of the two stylised successors of the [[Goddess Crest]] used within the same land during the [[Zelda Timeline#The Era of the Goddess Hylia|Era of the Godess Hylia]], the other being the [[Royal Crest]] used to represent the [[Royal Family of Hyrule]].
 
It is common depiction of an [[Loftwing|archaic bird]], usually beneath the [[Triforce]]. It can be seen on the [[Hylian Shield]] and in buildings such as [[Hyrule Castle]] and [[Temple of Time]]. This crest is mostly used to represent [[Hyrule]] and the [[Hylian]] race as a whole.


==Appearances==
==Appearances==
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The familiar red avian crest first appears in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|Ocarina of Time]]'', on the [[Hylian Shield]]. As the shield was used by the [[Knights of Hyrule]],<ref>{{cite|This is a big, heavy shield just like the ones Hylian Knights use. It can stand up to flame attacks!|Bazaar owner|Ocarina of Time}}</ref> it is possible that the bird or dragon may symbolize devotion to the Royal Family or to the Hylian people. The winged figure also seems to grasp a piece of the Triforce in its talons or claws, perhaps signifying dedication to the protection of the [[Sacred Realm]] or the realm of Hyrule. This same design appears on many versions of [[Princess Zelda|Princess Zelda's]] dress.
The familiar red avian crest first appears in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|Ocarina of Time]]'', on the [[Hylian Shield]]. As the shield was used by the [[Knights of Hyrule]],<ref>{{cite|This is a big, heavy shield just like the ones Hylian Knights use. It can stand up to flame attacks!|Bazaar owner|Ocarina of Time}}</ref> it is possible that the bird or dragon may symbolize devotion to the Royal Family or to the Hylian people. The winged figure also seems to grasp a piece of the Triforce in its talons or claws, perhaps signifying dedication to the protection of the [[Sacred Realm]] or the realm of Hyrule. This same design appears on many versions of [[Princess Zelda|Princess Zelda's]] dress.
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==Possible Candidates==
{{Theory}}
===Kaepora Gaebora===
It has been argued that the bird symbol is a representation of [[Kaepora Gaebora]]. This owl is said to be the reincarnation of an ancient sage,<ref>{{cite|They say that the owl named Kaepora Gaebora is the reincarnation of an ancient Sage.|Gossip Stone|Ocarina of Time}}</ref> who some theorize to be [[Rauru]], the [[Sage]] of Light from ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|Ocarina of Time]]''.
===Oocca===
Another plausible inspiration for the Hylian Crest is the [[Oocca]] tribe. This tribe was said to have helped create Hyrulean civilization in ancient times,<ref name=Shad>{{cite|The common opinion is that Hyrule was created by the Hylia people, the race closest to the gods, but…truth be told, there's also a theory saying that in ancient times there was a race even closer to the gods than the Hylia people, and THEY created it. And they, simultaneously with the birth of the Hylia people, created a new capital, a capital that floated in the heavens.|Shad|Twilight Princess}}</ref> and are said to be the closest race to the gods.<ref name=Shad/> The bird symbol on the Hylian Crest may have been used because of the influence that the tribe wielded over Hyrule in ancient times. It is said that the Royal Family once maintained contact with the Oocca,<ref>{{cite|Among the legends of my clan, there is a story from the time when the Oocca still maintained contact with the royal family.|Impaz|Twilight Princess}}</ref> and thus the bird symbol may have been chosen to honor the tribe.
===Valoo===
It is also mentioned in the ''[[The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker|The Wind Waker]]'' that [[Valoo]] is the almighty sky spirit and could also be a source of inspiration. In the recently released logo for the new title, ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword|Skyward Sword]]'', the crest of [[Hyrule]] is clearly shown. The nature of the game is rooted in the sky, and with Valoo being the spirit of the sky, granting wings to the [[Rito]], he is a plausible inspiration for the crest. He also only speaks in an [[Hylian_Language|ancient Hyrulian tongue]] and bears similar wings to that of the creature in the Royal Crest.
===Loftwing Birds===
The crest could draw inspiration from a [[Loftwing]] in flight from ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword|Skyward Sword]]''. If one heeds theories about a [[Zelda Timeline|timeline]] for the series, Loftwings are giant birds that share a special connection with the first Hylians, the inhabitants of [[Skyloft]] and chosen people of Her Grace [[Hylia]], who gave these birds to them for their protection. As all shields in ''Skyward Sword'' have a footprint or depiction of the Loftwing on them, it appears the red bird on the Hylian Shield is meant to be [[Crimson Loftwing|Link's Loftwing]].


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 13:03, 12 January 2012

Not to be confused with the Royal Crest.
The Hylian symbol.
The Hylian symbol.

The Hylian Crest[1] is one of the two stylised successors of the Goddess Crest used within the same land during the Era of the Godess Hylia, the other being the Royal Crest used to represent the Royal Family of Hyrule.

It is common depiction of an archaic bird, usually beneath the Triforce. It can be seen on the Hylian Shield and in buildings such as Hyrule Castle and Temple of Time. This crest is mostly used to represent Hyrule and the Hylian race as a whole.

Appearances

The Hylian crest on the Hylian Shield
The Hylian crest on the Hylian Shield
A winged figure on the Red Shield
A winged figure on the Red Shield

The depiction of a winged figure below the Triforce first appears in A Link to the Past, where the design of Link's shield features an avian design below the Triforce. Another avian figure guards the doorway of the Sanctuary as well. A similar winged figure can also be seen on the Hero's Shield in The Wind Waker.

The familiar red avian crest first appears in Ocarina of Time, on the Hylian Shield. As the shield was used by the Knights of Hyrule,[2] it is possible that the bird or dragon may symbolize devotion to the Royal Family or to the Hylian people. The winged figure also seems to grasp a piece of the Triforce in its talons or claws, perhaps signifying dedication to the protection of the Sacred Realm or the realm of Hyrule. This same design appears on many versions of Princess Zelda's dress.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "A shield with a Hylian crest. Defend against attacks with [Z]. It's metal and will never burn." — Hylian Shield item description (Twilight Princess)
  2. ↑ "This is a big, heavy shield just like the ones Hylian Knights use. It can stand up to flame attacks!" — Bazaar owner (Ocarina of Time)
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