Only one Goddess of Time? Maybe not . . .

I would like to postulate that it is vaguely possible that the Goddesses all have some involvement in time, but are in charge of specific domains. The idea of three goddesses almost inevitably brings up the idea of the Moirae or the Norns, e.g. the Fates. Therefore, each of the goddesses is in charge of a different section of time. This can be done without any contradiction to canon or to nature.

Nayru would be in charge of the past, since she is ostensibly the one who gives you the power to travel back in time. It makes sense since her brand of wisdom requires finding patterns in the data that you have collected, which is inevitably in the past.

Din is in charge of the present, for power can only be truly exercised in the now. Also, her element of fire and earth combine most nicely with this time that you can stand on and yet is as fleeting as a flame.

Farore must be in charge of the future, not only due to process of elimination, but because courage requires facing the possibilities of failure (fear comes from what may be), and forging your own road. Her element of the life-giving wind can be seen in how extremely tenuous the future is.

There is the possibility that people would argue that, since MM only refers to a "Goddess of Time," that there is only one. However, Japanese does not differentiate between singular and plural, so it is possible for there to be more than one goddess of time, thus allowing my model to be true.

Any thoughts/questions/suggestions/arguments?

Hm... A rather interesting theory. If there is not one Goddess of Time, but rather a few, then that surely must be how they relate to the different eras in time.

It's been a long time since I've seen anything on the fates, and it is possible that they could represent this. You did a lot of thinking on this didn't you?

Hmm. I like this theory and agree with it. It makes much more sence than "A god of time"

Thanks for the support, but personally, I was a little wary about the assignments to present and future: I'm not sure where Din and Farore should go on those two. The only thing I have for certain is that Nayru is concerned with the past.

Then again, perhaps some light could be shed on this with the help of the Tunes from OoA. Didn't they depict three symbols for three goddesses . . ?

I like the idea that each Goddess is tied with a specific essence of time. Very nice idea, HurriPen. I liked it so much, I hunted down some cold hard evidence for you to use!

The pearls of The Wind Waker. It's a screenshot from someone messing around in Beta Worlds, but the symbols on the pearls are the canon symbols. From left to right, we have a statuette representing Farore, then Din, then Nayru. These symbols will feel oddly familiar. Most chalk it up to Farore's looking like the Kokiri Emerald, and Nayru's looking like the Zora Sapphire, but Din's doesn't resemble the Goron Ruby whatsoever.

They're familiar because they're the symbols for the songs that manipulate time in Oracles of Ages. Farore's symbol is the symbol for the Echo Tune, the song that takes you back to the past. Din's symbol is the symbol for the Currents Tune, the song that takes you from the past to the present. Nayru's symbol is the symbol that represents the Tune of Time, which takes you from either past to present or present to past.

Now, this does throw your theory for a little loop; Farore's essence of time appears to be the past. I'd imagine she's associated with it because of the idea of coming to terms with your past, and things like that. Din is spot on with the present. Nayru's Tune of Time could refer to the future (past plus present), but could also refer to her being the technical Goddess of Time. Most people are going to pray for things to happen in the future, which is why Nayru is regarded as the Goddess of Time (she's got the future covered), despite the fact each Goddess controls a specific essence of time. One can also associate her with the future in that Nayru is so wise, she knows what will occur in the future.

Originally Posted by Eralk Fang

Farore's symbol is the symbol for the Echo Tune, the song that takes you back to the past. Din's symbol is the symbol for the Currents Tune, the song that takes you from the past to the present. Nayru's symbol is the symbol that represents the Tune of Time, which takes you from either past to present or present to past.

Now, this does throw your theory for a little loop; Farore's essence of time appears to be the past. I'd imagine She's associated with it because of the idea of coming to terms with your past, and things like that. Din is spot on with the present. Nayru's Tune of Time could refer to the future (past plus present), but could also refer to Her being the technical Goddess of Time. Most people are going to pray for things to happen in the future, which is why Nayru is regarded as the Goddess of Time (She's got the future covered), despite the fact each Goddess controls a specific essence of time. One can also associate Her with the future in that Nayru is so wise, She knows what will occur in the future.

The info about Farore does appear to hurt, but then again, you would have to consider whether she is concerned with the past per se, or with the Hero's personal future. Her song allows forward progress, as opposed to Nayru's, which might be her express permission to go back and forth between past and future as you would.

The behavior of each goddess's representative could be called forth to help us: Zelda appears to be concerned with ancient manners, seeing as her Royal heritage always plays a role. Link, however, always seems to come out of nowhere, having no parents, and is often the only one who can truly choose the future of Hyrule. No matter whether you are Linear or Splittist, he did create a new future when he traveled back to the past one last time in OoT. Ganondorf seems to be absorbed with power, which is at best a means to an end (i.e. what you go through presently).

I would imagine each of the Goddesses can be related to their representatives' futures. Ganondorf has the power to survive (like a cockroach!) over and over into the future, Zelda has the wisdom to rule in the future after the story ends, and Link has the courage to continue being a Hero even when Ganondorf is defeated.

I could see Farore being associated with the past and future. Perhaps it's a regional thing in the Zelda canon? Labrynna sees Farore as associated with the past, while Hyrule sees her associated with the future.

Originally Posted by Eralk Fang

I would imagine each of the Goddesses can be related to their representatives' futures. Ganondorf has the power to survive (like a cockroach!) over and over into the future, Zelda has the wisdom to rule in the future after the story ends, and Link has the courage to continue being a Hero even when Ganondorf is defeated.

Just a nit-picking question, but how would it require courage to continue being a hero when the biggest threat is done for?

I could see Farore being associated with the past and future. Perhaps it's a regional thing in the Zelda canon? Labrynna sees Farore as associated with the past, while Hyrule sees her associated with the future.

That might be the case, but I am uneasy at the thought that the attributes of the Goddesses might vary from place to place.

Originally Posted by HurriPen

Just a nit-picking question, but how would it require courage to continue being a hero when the biggest threat is done for?

The courage to continue to do Heroic deeds as Farore's chosen, despite the fact that the events that occur may never be as black and white as Ganondorf attempting to invade Hyrule was. Take Majora's Mask; while Skullkid is attached at the hip (or face, rather) to the main villain, and has been causing all this destruction with her power, he ultimately ends up Link's friend. Link could just sit back after his adventures, and never do anything again; however, he never does. Except maybe Oracles Link. He looks like a slacker.

That might be the case, but I am uneasy at the thought that the attributes of the Goddesses might vary from place to place.

It could change from specific era to specific era; Goddess worship is at an all time low during The Wind Waker, because the frog gods are more accessible than the Golden Goddesses. Farore may end up representing the past in New Hyrule, because of the vast amounts of legends about her various chosen representatives, which would probably all preface with "a long time ago...", despite representing the future in Old Hyrule.

Originally Posted by Eralk Fang

It could change from specific era to specific era; Goddess worship is at an all time low during The Wind Waker, because the frog gods are more accessible than the Golden Goddesses. Farore may end up representing the past in New Hyrule, because of the vast amounts of legends about her various chosen representatives, which would probably all preface with "a long time ago...", despite representing the future in Old Hyrule.

Just one more post before I leave for my class: the main thing that you assume is that their attributes are a result of the worshipers' perception; I was trying to deduce their true attributes, as opposed to real-world religion's evolution. I mean, gods in Zelda do what they do, regardless of what the people attribute to them.

Having Labrynna think Farore controls the past (which goes along with her Oracle, the Oracle of Secrets) doesn't mean they're right; it just explains why her symbol is on that specific song.

Taking that away, I'd simply say Farore has the past and Nayru has the future.