Throughout the Legend of Zelda series, the use of symbols has been a common element since the early games. Symbols have been used to represent races, gods, sages, and many more ideas within the Zelda universe. These symbols have been the basis for many theories and explanations. Although most icons and emblems have been thoroughly explained, there are some that remain in relative mystery. One of the iconizations that fall in that category would be the eye symbol seen in many Legend of Zelda installments.

The eye symbol has appeared in several occasions in different games. There is no general consensus given by any of the games that explains this image in detail, leading to speculations and mystery. Many fans wrongly make an impulsive connection towards the Sheikah when they see an eye emblem. Although the Sheikah emblem does contain an eye, it does not mean every eye image is connected to them as well.

These eye symbols normally appear as an emblem to evil beings. Not only this, but it also seems to represent dark magical powers aside from being an evil icon in the series. But why an eye? There are some historical and cultural facts which the developers may have thought of when assigning this symbol.

Origin of the “Evil Eye”

Many worldly cultures hold a superstitious ideal called the ” evil eye”. The evil eye is a belief that the envy elicited by the good luck of fortunate people may result in their misfortune. The perception of the nature of the phenomenon, its causes, and possible protective measures, varies between different cultures.

In some forms, it is the belief that some people can bestow a curse on victims by the malevolent gaze of their magical eye. Some cultures report afflictions with bad luck; others believe the evil eye can cause disease, wasting away, and even death. Some cultures even hold that the evil eye is an involuntary jinx cast unintentionally by people unlucky enough to be cursed with the power to bestow it by their gaze.

The amount of literary and archaeological evidence attests to the belief in the evil eye in the eastern Mediterranean for more than a millennium starting with Hesiod, Callimachus, Plato, Diodorus Siculus, Theocritus, Plutarch, Heliodorus, Pliny the Elder, and Aulus Gellius.

The origin of the belief can only be guessed, but it can be traced back to the earliest of human records and the references in Deuteronomy indicate that the evil eye was known in the Hebraic world.There are also speculations that claim Socrates possessed the evil eye and that his disciples and admirers were fascinated by Socrates’ insistently glaring eyes. His followers were called Blepedaimones, which translates into demon look, not because they were possessors and transmitters of the evil eye, but because they were suspected of being under the hypnotic and dangerous spell of Socrates.

In the Greco-Roman period a scientific explanation of the evil eye was common. Plutarch’s scientific explanation stated that the eyes were the chief, if not sole, source of the deadly rays that were supposed to spring up like poisoned darts from the inner recesses of a person possessing the evil eye

The belief in the evil eye during antiquity varied from different regions and periods. Belief in the evil eye is strongest in the Middle East, East and West Africa, South Asia, Central Asia and Europe, especially the Mediterranean region; it has also spread to other areas, including northern Europe.

All of this ultimately indicates that the “evil eye” is a form of evil magic and thus a symbol depicting it is probably in reference to it. This phenomenon was mostly believed in Europe and Asia, around the times of the middle ages. This coincides with the era in which the Legend of Zelda games take place.

All of the hexing and witchcraft mentioned above is commonly used by the evil beings who bear the eye symbol in many of the games.

“Evil Eye” in the Series

Agahnim

When Hyrule became plagued by an onslaught of terrible misfortunes , the King of Hyrule offered a reward to anyone who could put an end to these disasters. A mysterious stranger named Agahnim came and put an end to these troubles with a previously unknown magic.

Agahnim is the first one in the series to be seem with the eye symbol, which can be clearly seen in his robe. He brainwashed the entire castle guard and made the seven wise men disappear into the dark world. Eye symbols can be seen throughout the corrupted Hyrule Castle as well.

Vaati

Vaati was fascinated by the evil that could come from the heart of man. When his master, Ezlo, fashioned a powerful magical cap as a gift for the humans, one that could make one’s wishes come true. Vaati stole the cap, transformed into a sorcerer and cursed his master into the shape of a living cap, so that he would not stop him.

Vaati, when in his demon form, develops an “evil eye” that is seen in the symbols. Vaati is a sorcerer who can use powerful magic and employ powerful curses such as Turing Princess Zelda into stone. Again the evil eye appears when depicting evil magical powers and curses.

Veran

Veran is the Sorceress of Shadows and has the ability to possess anybody she wishes to. She possesses the oracle Nayru, in order to reach the past and alter to her liking.

As usual where there are dark powers, there is the evil eye. An eye symbol can be seen in her gown.

Fused Shadow

The pieces of Fused Shadows hold the magical power used by the Dark Interlopers who sought entry to the Sacred Realm to claim the Triforce. The enormous power of the Interlopers was sealed away within the Fused Shadow by the Gods.

The picture above is of the back of Midna’s helmet, which is a piece of the Fused Shadow. As always, the evil eye is there when referring to evil magic.

What we can draw from all of this is that the eye symbol does have a connection with evil and a stronger connection with the dark arts. Every time the evil eye appears, evil is the subject at hand. Although the eye symbol is usually portrayed as malevolent in the series, there is one specific type of eye that is just the opposite of that, the Sheikah eye.

The Sheikah Eye

Taking what the game tells us about the Sheikah, they are not evil at all. They are the people who serve the Royal Family of Hyrule and are considered as a tribe of good. But following the logic we have developed until now you may think they must be evil as they use the eye symbol.That is not entirely true. They do use the eye emblem but this one has a distinctive trait, a tear. This eye is different in both it’s design and background. Here we have the Sheikah eye:

That distinctive tear is what separates it from the evil eye. This is the emblem of the “shadows fol” of Hyrule. There is a reason it is an eye with a tear, we must explore the annals of history once more.

The ancient Egyptians believed in something they called ” The Eye of Horus”. The Eye of Horus is an ancient Egyptian symbol of protection and royal power from deities, in this case from Horus or Ra. This is the Eye of Horus:

There are several details that help link the Sheikah eye’s background to the Eye of Horus. I write this to try and understand the depth behind the creation of the Sheikah eye by the designers.

Tear

Although it may not seem like it, the Eye of Horus is confirmed by the Egyptians themselves to have a tear. The teardrop is the vertical marking under the Eye of Horus. This offers a clear link between both eyes as the Sheikah eye is distinguished by having the teardrop.

Guardian

The Eye of Horus “was intended to protect the king in the afterlife” and to ward off evil. Although the Sheikah don’t protect the Royal Family in death, they do guard them in life, but they definitively ward off evil the same way the Eye of Horus does. A connection can definitively be made here, although not as clear as before.

Foresight

The right eye of Horus represents a Peregrine Falcon’s eye, which is a kind of absolute vigilance. The same can be said about the Sheikah. They Guard and watch the Royal Family from an extended viewpoint, which is a reference to the Lense of Truth. It can be said that the Sheikah have Peregrine Falcon’s view as well, as they utilize Gossip stones and any other means in order to have an information network and have a wider view of everything in the kingdom of Hyrule. They also seem to be the makers of the Howling Stones in Twilight Princess, which are scattered all over Hyrule.

The Sheikah eye can be seen in many different locations. In The Wind Waker there is a Sheikah symbol in the boat atop Forsaken Fortress.The Egyptians painted the Eye of Horus on their ships for good luck, there may a reference there as well.

There is also a Sheikah eye on the back of Princess Zelda’s cloak in Twilight Princess.

All of these eyes scattered throughout the lands on each of the games indicate that the Sheikah are always vigilant and are aware of many things. Who knows if they are truly extinct or simply in hiding.

Artifacts

Many Egyptian artifacts have the Eye of Horus in them. The same goes for all of the Sheikah artifacts. Both use their respective eye as a label or symbolization. Here are some of these artifacts:

The Sheikah eye and The Eye of Horus seem to have a lot in common. It is a very real possibility that the developers based the Sheikah emblem from the Egyptian symbol, Eye of Horus. It has also been proven how different the evil eye and the Sheikah eye from each other. One is representative of evil and one represents good.

There is another possibility as to their backgrounds. This idea is one that they both share equally. It is the concept of the “third eye”.

Third Eye

The third eye (also known as the inner eye) is a mystical and esoteric concept referring in part to the ajna (brow) chakra in certain Eastern and Western spiritual traditions. It is also spoken of as the gate that leads within to inner realms and spaces of higher consciousness. The third eye is often associated with visions, clairvoyance, precognition, and out-of-body experiences.

All of these abilities have been mentioned above. Visions and clairvoyance are a common theme with the Sheikah eye. The lens of truth is a prime example of this. The evil eye can also be attributed with these abilities. Veran is able to posses other beings, which is an out-of-body experience as described above. Agahnim is also able to brainwash others into doing his bidding.

The concept of the Third Eye can also be used to explain the reason behind the eye symbols in the series. It doesn’t involve magic as the others do, but it focuses on psychic behavior as exerted by many characters seen with the eye symbol.

Symbolism is a hard thing to interpret, specially if no concrete confirmations are made. That is the case with the eye symbol in the Zelda universe. Whether you wish to interpret it as an evil eye, the Eye of Horus or the Third Eye is completely up to you. Nothing can be done apart from informed guesses. The secrets of the eye symbol seem to have been uncovered for the most part, its iconization throughout the series will always have a mystic sensation nonetheless.