Ancient Tablet
Ancient Tablets,(SS | TotK)[1][2] also known as Stone Tablets,(TotK)[3] are recurring items and Objects in The Legend of Zelda series.
Location and Uses
Skyward Sword
Normally, the inhabitants of Skyloft cannot reach the Surface, and in fact its lands are simply a legend for them. However, the Ancient Tablet, when placed in the altar inside the Chamber of the Sword, allows Link to penetrate the Cloud Barrier by forming a Column of Light in each of the three regions of the surface. The tablet is broken into three parts - Emerald, Ruby and Amber. These three fragments open the way to Faron Woods, Eldin Volcano and Lanayru Desert, respectively.
List of Tablets
Emerald Tablet
The Emerald Tablet is found Inside the Statue of the Goddess in Skyloft. It is used to access Faron Woods.
Ruby Tablet
The Ruby Tablet is found in Skyview Spring, located behind the room where Link fights Ghirahim in Skyview Temple.
Amber Tablet
The Amber Tablet is found in the Earth Spring, located behind the room where Link fights Scaldera in the Earth Temple. As with the Ruby Tablet, hitting the Goddess Crest with a Skyward Strike leads to another message from the gods and the acquisition of the Amber Tablet.[4] When the Amber Tablet is returned to the altar inside the Chamber of the Sword, the entire Ancient Tablet is reassembled and a cloud rift with a yellow light pillar appears in the southwestern part of The Sky. This marks the way to Lanayru Desert, the final continuous area of The Surface reachable from The Sky.
Tears of the Kingdom
The Ancient Tablets are found on star-shaped islands across Hyrule. Link cannot read them himself, but they can be photographed and shown to Wortsworth to decipher as part of the Side Adventure "Messages from an Ancient Era".
The Ancient Tablets, diegetically in the Ancient Hyrulean language, are written in an imitation of Middle English. This is an idiosyncracy unique to the English localization; in other languages, Wortsworth simply translates the text of the tablets directly.
Ancient Tablet #1 (Lookout Landing)
The first tablet is found at Lookout Landing. The star-shaped island it fell from is approximately 3000 meters above, among the highest in Hyrule.
| Ancient Hyrulean | Possible meaning |
|---|---|
|
Ones held y honore als hochmayde to Her on thaes grete stan ond twelf mo So michte heore remembraunce |
Once I held the honor of high maiden to Here on this great stone and twelve more So might here remembrance preserve |
| Wortsworth's take | |
|
There's not much to go on, but you can clearly read the names of King Rauru and Queen Sonia, the founders of Hyrule. The name "Zelda" is clearly legible elsewhere in the text. The author finishes by saying that she will write about the royal family's daily lives in 13 segments. It certainly seems to be a royal diary left behind by a chamberlain or someone of equivalent station. The part that catches my attention is the third name mentioned—Zelda. There's no record of anyone by that name in any of the other texts we've unearthed so far. But this is evidence that the name Zelda is much older than the princess—it dates all the way back to Hyrule's founding. What's written here must be the start of a firsthand account of Hyrule! It's short, but it's an introduction from a servant to Rauru and Sonia, the founding king and queen of Hyrule. She also waited on the king's elder sister, Mineru, as well as someone named Zelda, and wrote of their daily lives in 13 tablets. It couldn't be simpler! | |
Ancient Tablet #2: Account of a Celebration
The second tablet is located in the South Eldin Sky Archipelago, nearby Kadaunar Shrine and above the Trilby Valley. This tablet does not fall.
| Ancient Hyrulean | Possible meaning |
|---|---|
|
So swete the song of kyng Rauru, ond so Ond so hende quen Sonias gasen on us Seruantes lyf, tho moche laboursum, |
So sweet the song of king Rauru, and so And so when queen Sonia gazed on us A servant's life, though quite labor-some, |
| Wortsworth's take | |
|
This is an account of a party from those days. It says King Rauru and his older sister sang and danced together while Queen Sonia looked on. We think of royalty as austere and reserved, but these nobles amused themselves with song and dance. But what a vivid recounting of a scene never before related in any history book... The descriptions of their personalities and expressions make the ancient past feel alive again. This stone tablet is a first-class find. Well done, dear chamberlain, in leaving behind this account for us. I'm positively beside myself to think of how this story from the ancient past persevered so long to reach us today. | |
Ancient Tablet #3: The Strong Queen and the Receptive King
The third tablet is located in the Lanayru Sky, south of Jirutagumac Shrine and above Ralis Pond. This tablet's pedestal will fall when Link steps onto the center of the island.
| Ancient Hyrulean | Possible meaning |
|---|---|
|
Sonia, quen to Hyrules kyng, bi birthe Speken she with open herte, eornest to This kyng ythinke it gode aventure so to |
Sonia, queen to Hyrule's king, [was] by birth She speaks with an open heart, earnest to This king thinks it a good adventure so to |
| Wortsworth's take | |
|
This one looks to be about Queen Sonia. It claims that Sonia was a priestess before marrying Rauru. Despite his status as a Zonai, a people popularly thought to be gods, she would counsel him without any trepidation. Moreover, Rauru heeded this counsel. This account gives us firsthand knowledge of the nature of Queen Sonia and King Rauru's relationship. Rauru found himself unexpectedly charmed by her strong will, and before long, they were married... Er, that last bit isn't in the text. That's me speculating. History rarely speaks of a person's character prior to being elevated to royalty. So I can't help but fantasize. | |
Ancient Tablet #4: The Harmonious Couple
The fourth tablet is located in the West Hebra Sky Archipelago, above Biron Snowshelf and north of Sturnida Basin. This tablet does not fall.
| Ancient Hyrulean | Possible meaning |
|---|---|
|
Oft wys Rauru, kyng of kene blade, Ond oft queynte Sonia, quene of kene In hir sapience semes she divin, that she Ond the kyng? O, he laughe. Nat him hir |
Often wise Rauru, king of a keen blade, And often would Sonia, queen of keen In her sapience she seems divine, that she And the king? Oh, he laughs. He is not |
| Wortsworth's take | |
|
This is a tale of King Rauru. Apparently, he would vacate his official business from time to time in order to go out hunting. I had the impression he was a stricter, more serious king, but I guess he had a lighter side as well. However, Queen Sonia was always a step ahead. She would put a stop to King Rauru's hunts and bring him back. We rarely get a glimpse into the down-to- earth side of royalty in this way. It's an important find, to be sure. | |
Ancient Tablet #5: A Pilgrimage of Light
The fifth tablet is located in the East Hebra Sky Archipelago, above North Tabantha Snowfield and directly west of the North Lomei Castle Top Floor. This tablet does not fall.
| Ancient Hyrulean | Possible meaning |
|---|---|
|
The kyng was late y-come this aven, so Of erli daies sinnes Hyrules funding have Uncesinge in striffe, thei broughte to With might of light ond pouere, driven Thes holi selen ben yclept Shirines Gret kyng, grete quen, y thank ye. Ye |
The king was late to come this evening, so Of early days since Hyrule's founding have Unceasing in strife, they brought to With might of light and power, they were driven These holy seals are called Shrines Great king, great queen, I thank you. You |
| Wortsworth's take | |
|
The subject here is the actions King Rauru and Queen Sonia undertook not long after Hyrule's founding. With the kingdom established, they were worried for their people, so they set out to eradicate the monsters troubling them. They created structures called Shrines of Light to seal the monsters away so that they could never be revived. There's more here about light...and time too... The sense I get is that the two of them may have had supernatural powers. Though it's part of ancient history, it's a feat those of us living today should still be grateful for. Truly an important discovery. | |
Ancient Tablet #6: The Researcher Mineru
The sixth tablet is located in the West Necluda Sky Archipelago, directly south of the Great Sky Island and above Deya Lake. This tablet does not fall.
| Ancient Hyrulean | Possible meaning |
|---|---|
|
Queynte Mineru, the kynges elder suster, In min wieried wei don y what much y Of late treteth she of 'constructes,' So, seyde she, micht she liven longe, in Though Mineru ne semes to holden ani |
Mineru, the king's elder sister, In my wearied way I do what much I Of late she speaks of 'constructs,' So says she, might she live long, in Though Mineru seems not to hold any |
| Wortsworth's take | |
|
Here, we learn a bit about Mineru. It says that she neglected to eat or sleep while making something called a...construct? It was part of her research into a means of returning to life as a spirit possessing a new body, should her original one die. To you or I, this sounds less like history and more like some sort of ghost story. But remember who we're dealing with. They may have had unfathomable powers that made such things possible. The revelation that Mineru was a fellow researcher makes her feel like a kindred spirit to me, and yet... The chamberlain who inscribed these tablets treats Mineru with such care and kindness that it warms my heart. | |
Ancient Tablet #7: The Foreign Princess
The seventh tablet is located in the Gerudo Sky, above the East Barrens and west of the South Lomei Castle Top Floor. This tablet's pedestal will fall when Link steps onto the center of the island.
| Ancient Hyrulean | Possible meaning |
|---|---|
|
Ful fyn is the weder this morn, ond have Bi gras has she been given a name most In certain folk stered suspecioun, for Yet wolde hir contenonce ond bering Als be Zelda to remainen for a wile with |
Fine is the weather this morning, and I have By grace has she been given a name most In certain folk [she] stirred suspicion, for Yet would her countenance and bearing As Zelda is to remain for a while with |
| Wortsworth's take | |
|
This is another fascinating entry. If my translation is correct, the Zelda described here is Sonia's distant relative. According to this, she arrived in Hyrule unexpectedly from another kingdom. It seems she was a beautiful princess. Her strange clothing perplexed the people of Hyrule, and many were suspicious of her at first. But this Zelda had such an undeniable air of nobility that those who doubted she was of royal birth were soon silenced. Note how clearly this conveys the writer's feelings regarding Zelda. Once it was clear Zelda would be staying, she applied to be chamberlain to the princess. That suggests real admiration. | |
Ancient Tablet #8: The Free-Spirited Zelda
The eighth tablet is located in the East Necluda Sky, isolated in the sky above Mount Floria. This tablet's pedestal will fall when Link steps onto the center of the island.
| Ancient Hyrulean | Possible meaning |
|---|---|
|
Princesse Zelda recent comes to sen Todai cam hit ipassen that Mineru Zelda, she much desired on hit to riden, Neuer the lesse she made to sitten Min lausion, so graunt alredy, dyde |
Princess Zelda recently comes to see Today it came to pass that Mineru Zelda, she much desired to ride on it, Never the less she made to sit My laughter, so grand already, did |
| Wortsworth's take | |
|
The subject here is Zelda and Mineru. Zelda apparently visited Mineru often to assist with her research. I have no idea what kind of thing this "construct" that allowed people to ride on it was. But Zelda rode it so well that our author the chamberlain was again impressed by her skill at everything she tried. That's the long and short of it here. But more than the narrative, what strikes me is the back and forth between the chamberlain and Zelda. The chamberlain tried to warn Zelda of the danger, but Zelda pushed past her and rode the construct anyway. It's short but so evocative of both the level of technology found in this era and the character of their visitor Zelda. The "treasure" found in these stone tablets is the pearls of wisdom and nuggets of personality contained within. | |
Ancient Tablet #9: The Latest Trend
The ninth tablet is located in the Necluda Sea Sky, above Hateno Beach on the west side of Hateno Bay. This tablet's pedestal will fall when Link steps onto the center of the island.
| Ancient Hyrulean | Possible meaning |
|---|---|
|
Facioun nou favereth garnementes This tast for mucheron com of the This facioun, Zelda telled to the In hir time werd everichon patrons of Anou our hende seamestre set herte on Y seche after som for min one but ne |
Fashion now favors garments This taste for mushrooms comes of the This fashion, Zelda told to the In her time were ever patterns of Now our handy seamstress set heart on I searched after some for my own but |
| Wortsworth's take | |
|
Here we learn something about the fashion trends of that era. The story's catalyst is their Zelda telling a tailor about the mushroom-patterned outfits becoming popular in her homeland. Intrigued, the tailor fashioned some clothing in that vein, and it caught on in ancient Hyrule. Do you know Cece from Hateno Village? Imagine the look on her face if she were to find out! They say that trends go in cycles, but... I didn't expect mushroom patterns to have been in fashion so long ago! One last thing about the chamberlain... Her interest in fashion shows there was more to her than devoted service. She was just like anyone else in the kingdom. | |
Ancient Tablet #10: An Ancient Ghost Story
The tenth tablet is located on the south of the ring making up the North Gerudo Sky Archipelago, south of Starview Island and above Vatorsa Snowfield. This tablet's pedestal will fall when Link steps onto the center of the island.
| Ancient Hyrulean | Possible meaning |
|---|---|
|
Of late have y herd it told a straunge ladi She ond princesse Zelda semes als Whan she is asked about thes walkes, What monstre, or spirit of derknesse, |
Of late have I heard it told [that] a strange lady She and princess Zelda seem as When she is asked about these walks, What monster, or spirit of darkness, |
| Wortsworth's take | |
|
This one is an ancient ghost story. My understanding of ancient Hyrulean isn't perfect, but I know a ghost story when I see one. It's a firsthand account of a ghostly or maybe corpse-like woman who appeared each night looking just like their Zelda. No matter the era, it seems, people can't resist sharing a good ghost story. A bit like how there have been eyewitness accounts of our Princess Zelda in the newspaper, even though she's missing... Could our Zelda be a ghost too? No... of course not. | |
Ancient Tablet #11: For the Hero's Sake
The eleventh tablet is located in the Great Hyrule Forest Sky, east of Thyphlo Ruins and directly above the Drenan Highlands Chasm. This tablet's pedestal will fall when Link steps onto the center of the island, in fact falling all the way down the chasm and landing in the Depths.
| Ancient Hyrulean | Possible meaning |
|---|---|
|
Sith hire founding has Hyrule swich Mineru, the kynges elder suster, seyes of Princesse Zelda tells hire that this futur Bitwene the two, thei imaked to finden Her min treuthe, sogte thei to up-reisen Al dyden so in fer distaunt dai, our In min herte y woot y helpen mot, ond y Min wordes iseie nat enow, but thei |
Since her founding has Hyrule such Mineru, the king's elder sister, says of Princess Zelda tells her that this future Between the two, they made to find Her mind true, they sought to raise up All this so in far distant days, our In my heart I know I must help, and I My words may not be enough, but they |
| Wortsworth's take | |
|
That one is all about the feats Zelda performed for the sake of the hero. The details are unclear, but essentially, the chamberlain trusted in Mineru and Zelda's predictions and wanted to help. She put forth the suggestion to Mineru to build a mechanism that could make her stone tablets float in the sky. Which I take it are the very tablets you found, Link? But it doesn't end there. If my translation is correct, it suggests that their Zelda worked with Mineru to raise the Temple of Time into the sky! The idea of the Temple of Time—a grand edifice built in that ancient era—being lifted to the skies to await a hero... Although given the appearance of the sky islands after the Upheaval, perhaps it's not so far-fetched as it seems. What must it have been like for the chamberlain to live through such miraculous times? | |
Ancient Tablet #12: The Day the Land Rose
The twelfth tablet is located in the South Hyrule Sky Archipelago, directly above the River of the Dead on the Great Plateau. This tablet does not fall.
| Ancient Hyrulean | Possible meaning |
|---|---|
|
Swich wondrous sight y hav bihelden that The Temple of Time y sawe, ond al londe As princesse Zelda itold mi, in fer For that champioun be hit that y thes The kynges elder suster, Mineru, sendes |
Such wondrous sight I have beheld that The Temple of Time I saw, and all land As princess Zelda told me, in [the] far For that champion is it that I The king's elder sister, Mineru, sends |
| Wortsworth's take | |
|
This is an eyewitness account of the day the Temple of Time floated into the sky. It's a landmark discovery for the history of Hyrule. It may be one of the top 10 most important discoveries of all time! Even among all the breathtaking displays of power we knew of from the era, to raise the land and its buildings into the sky... That was a feat impressive even to those accustomed to wonders. You can tell as much from this account. Zelda predicted that a hero would appear in the land they raised into the sky and that he would save Hyrule. The chamberlain took this on faith and wanted to know how she could help. So she inscribed these records on the stone tablets that Mineru sent into the sky. Give me a moment. I need to view these accounts as a historian and not get so swept up in personal sentiments... | |
Ancient Tablet #13: A Parting Resolve
The thirteenth and final tablet is located in the Sokkala Sky Archipelago, above Torin Wetland and directly next to a large island where a Flux Construct II resides.
| Ancient Hyrulean | Possible meaning |
|---|---|
|
Rauru, Hyrules kyng. Sonia, hir quen. Al whom y served, ond loved. Al whom This stan, ond al thritene, serven als roial Mani the mark made bi thes much Whan y make remembraunce of hir Hit be als though thes markes som I ne con nat met princesse Zelda hir lov Let min lyf lede mi fro hennes-forth an |
Rauru, Hyrule's king. Sonia, her queen. All whom I served, and loved. All whom This stone, and all thirteen, serve as the royal Many [were] the marks made by these much When I make remembrance of her It is as though these marks I cannot met princess Zelda her love Let my life lead me forward henceforth to an |
| Wortsworth's take | |
|
It seems this is the last of the records. The royals whom the chamberlain served so faithfully were gone, one by one... It's heartrending to read. Her pain comes across so clearly in her words. What's less clear from these entries is the cause of all these partings... Well, each new mystery is an opportunity to do more research. If I keep digging, someday I'll unravel it. | |
Nomenclature
 Names in Other Regions  | ||
|---|---|---|
| Language | Names | Meanings |
 Japanese | 宝珠の石版 (Houshu no Sekiban) (SS) | Jewel Tablet |
 ChineseSI | 古代石版 (Gǔdài shíbǎn) (SSHD)[5] | |
 FrenchCA | Stèle ancienne (SS) | |
 FrenchEU | Stèle ancienne (SS) | |
 German | Alte Steintafel (SS) | Old Stone Tablet |
 SpanishLA | Litografía arcana (SS) | Arcane Lithography |
| This table was generated using translation pages. To request an addition, please contact a staff member with a reference. | ||
Gallery
-
The complete Map of the three different pieces
-
The complete Tablet, as seen in the inventory
References
- ↑ The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword—Prima Official Game Guide (Collector's Edition, 2013), Prima Games, pg. 22
- ↑ "Ancient Tablet
Deciphered" — Map (Tears of the Kingdom) - ↑ "Did you notice the number 13 there? That means there are 12 more stone tablets to be found." — Wortsworth (Tears of the Kingdom)
- ↑ "From the edge of time I guide you, the one destined to carry out the goddess's mission. The spirit maiden who descended from the clouds has passed through the Earth Spring and makes her way to a fated place. The parched desert of Lanayru... That is where the chosen will pass through the Gate of Time into a distant world." — Fi (Skyward Sword HD)
- ↑ "古代石版" — Gear (Skyward Sword HD, Simplified Chinese localization)
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