The Temple of Time: Is it the Light Temple?

The Lakebed Temple = Water Temple thread inspired me to post this.

In OoT, Rauru the Sage of Light mentions that the Chamber of Sages is located in the Sacred Realm at the center of the Light Temple, which we never actually get to see. It can be assumed that this temple consits of many rooms, just like all the others.

In Twilight Princess, a part of the Temple of Time never revealed in OoT is accessed by the Hero of Twilight through a secret stair that leads to a window pane that appears to double as a portal to the greater portion of the actual temple itself. (My guess is that the more easily reachable entrance of the temple is meant to guard the Master Sword, while the rest is the part that is actually devoted to Time itself.)

This additional area of the Temple of Time, which might not be visible from the exterior and existant inside the Sacred Realm considering that you access it through a window pane, has several prominent instances where the symbol of Light, shown before both on the Light Medallion and on the Light Sage, appears on walls, floors, the map, etc. Also taking into account that the Prelude of Light (notably, not the Song of Time, as one might expect) transported Link to the Temple of Time in OoT.

Is it then not much of a stretch for me to say that the Temple of Time and Light Temple are one in the same? Evidence would seem to suggest that is the case...to me, at least.

*spoiler alert for MDK* lol

The Temple of Time is in Hyrule.
The Temple of Light is in the Sacred Realm.

The TP dungeon is... somewhere. xD

Of course, one has to wonder... does entering a seemingly-normal door at all entail entering another world? Consider this especially alongside the dramatic imagery surrounding Link's entry into the temple edifice itself from the Grove.

While its not a grammitcally perfect argument, it seems very likely that Rauru differentiates between the two temples when he sets the stage in the Chamber of the sages;

Originally Posted by Rauru

Ages ago, we ancient Sages built the Temple of Time to protect the entrance to
the Sacred Realm...
This is the Chamber of Sages, inside the Temple of Light...
The Temple of Light, situated in the very center of the Sacred Realm, is the
last stronghold against Ganondorf's evil forces.

How could a building which gaurds the entrance to a realm also be at the very center of that realm? Why would he suddenly call the same building by a different name?

Their architectural design is nearly identical.
The only difference really is the upgraded graphics from OoT to TP.
I would most definitely agree that:

Temple of Time = Temple of Light

The main differences are that when Link places the sword in the pedastal, a staircase appears instead of opening the doorway to the sacred realm. And the temple itself is no longer guarded by the six sages because they are on duty guarding the mirror of twilight.

Originally Posted by LexLionHart

*spoiler alert for MDK* lol

The Temple of Time is in Hyrule.
The Temple of Light is in the Sacred Realm.

The TP dungeon is... somewhere. xD

Of course, one has to wonder... does entering a seemingly-normal door at all entail entering another world? Consider this especially alongside the dramatic imagery surrounding Link's entry into the temple edifice itself from the Grove.

Yes, when Link steps through the Door of Time, he is enveloped in light, and taken back to the past when the Temple of Time was still intact. Then, when he inserts the Master Sword into the Pedestal, another door opens in the window pane to the inner part of the temple. It may be that this "inner sanctum" of the Temple of Time is the Light Temple in that Rauru refered to.

I again emphasize the fact that the symbol of Light is literally plastered all over the place inside the temple. In particular, the upper-most room where Link fights the darknut and retrieves the Dominion Rod has a HUGE Light symbol engraved on the floor.

Aside from the symbol, however, does anything point to the Temple of Time dungeon being the Temple of Light?

My question is that, if your thinking is correct, then the Temple of Light has been behind the Temple of Time, even in OOT, right?

So why would it be there? Why would there have to be a temple of light, anyways? There are temples for the other medallions in OOT, yes, but does that mean there has to be one for OOT? We didn't see it because Rauru hands the Light Medallion over before you do anything, so it's likely that there IS no temple of light.

As for the light symbol, you've got me stumped. Are there any other specific light references in the TP dungeon, anything that would suggest that it's more than just a housing for the Dominion Rod?

Originally Posted by Grass

My question is that, if your thinking is correct, then the Temple of Light has been behind the Temple of Time, even in OOT, right?

So why would it be there? Why would there have to be a temple of light, anyways? There are temples for the other medallions in OOT, yes, but does that mean there has to be one for OOT? We didn't see it because Rauru hands the Light Medallion over before you do anything, so it's likely that there IS no temple of light.

As for the light symbol, you've got me stumped. Are there any other specific light references in the TP dungeon, anything that would suggest that it's more than just a housing for the Dominion Rod?

Actually, Rauru specificly mentions the fact that the Chamber of Sages is located in the Light Temple when you first meet him in OoT. He also says that the Light Temple is at the center of the Sacred Realm. Link just never actually set foot in it (apart from the Chamber of Sages).

As for other references other than the symbol of Light being stamped everywhere, I'm not sure. I'd have to go back and look again.

I recall there was a huge set of scales, but I'm not sure how that refers to either time or light. There was also a mural that showed the seven sages walking in procession, two of them holding something. One of them appears to be holding the Dominion Rod, but the other appears to be holding...something. It almost looks like a lantern to me...but I'm not sure.

Ages ago, we ancient Sages built the Temple of Time to protect the entrance to
the Sacred Realm...
This is the Chamber of Sages, inside the Temple of Light...
The Temple of Light, situated in the very center of the Sacred Realm, is the
last stronghold against Ganondorf's evil forces.

I just had to quote this again. Rauru differentiates between the two. The addition to the temple of time offers no clue about it being different to the earliest parts of the temple of time. No, I dont think that the back part of the temple of time is actually the temple of light. There is an easy way to find out, actually. Find a reference to the location of the dominion rod somewhere in the dialouge in twilight princess. Whatever that may say (if such a quote exists) will be the answer.

Another key to solving this problem is observing the 'light seal' in Ganons tower in Ocarina Of Time. Like the other 'seals' this should represent the light temple.

According to the qoute above, in order to have entered the light temple, Link must have entered the sacred realm, for the light temple is situated within the sacred realm.

It seems incredibly unlikely.

Scales typically symbolize justice. The sages in TP seem to be arbiters, since they have their headquarters at Arbiter's Grounds.

Originally Posted by Blue fire

I just had to quote this again. Rauru differentiates between the two. The addition to the temple of time offers no clue about it being different to the earliest parts of the temple of time. No, I dont think that the back part of the temple of time is actually the temple of light. There is an easy way to find out, actually. Find a reference to the location of the dominion rod somewhere in the dialouge in twilight princess. Whatever that may say (if such a quote exists) will be the answer.

Another key to solving this problem is observing the 'light seal' in Ganons tower in Ocarina Of Time. Like the other 'seals' this should represent the light temple.

The light "seal" in Ganon's Tower is the same as the one on the Light Medallion, just like all the other mini-dungeons there. It also appears on the Triforce crest that Link teleports to when he plays the Prelude of Light. Why would this song bring him here, instead of the Song of Time? Perhaps it is because time is in the domain of light?

And if the Temple of Time is NOT the Light Temple, then why is it that this symbol (which can also be seen on the Sage of Light and on one of the great pillars of the Mirror Chamber in Twilight Princess) appear all over the Temple of Time? Why does it appear prominently on the map screen of the temple?

Also something I just discovered that I had forgotten: When Link summons the Golden Wolf at the Sacred Grove, the song that he howls is...the Prelude of Light! Do you still doubt this connection?

Light Medallion

The light "seal" in Ganon's Tower is the same as the one on the Light Medallion, just like all the other mini-dungeons there. It also appears on the Triforce crest that Link teleports to when he plays the Requiem of Light. Why would this song bring him here, instead of the Song of Time? Perhaps it is because time is in the domain of light?

Apologies, but could you explain this differently? I dont think I have got your point...
By the way, its the Prelude of Light.

And if the Temple of Time is NOT the Light Temple, then why is it that this symbol (which can also be seen on the Sage of Light and on one of the great pillars of the Mirror Chamber in Twilight Princess) appear all over the Temple of Time? Why does it appear prominently on the map screen of the temple?

Because the Temple of time Guards the entrance to the sacred realm, which contains the temple of light, as explained by the quote I provided from Rauru.

Originally Posted by Blue fire

Apologies, but could you explain this differently? I dont think I have got your point...

Because the Temple of time Guards the entrance to the sacred realm, which contains the temple of light, as explained by the quote I provided from Rauru.

When Link plays the any of the temple songs that Sheik teaches him in Ocarina of Time, it brings him to the entrance of the respective temple of the song he plays. The Prelude of Light brings Link to the Temple of Time. What can we deduce from this?

When I say time is in the domain of light, I mean the the quality of time is somehow intimate connected with time. When Link steps through the Door of Time in Twilight Princess, and when Link removes the Master Sword in Ocarina of Time, what is he enveloped by? Light. That is what I'm getting at here.

You also asked what the Light symbol looks like. That link in my last post will show you.

On a possibly related note, Princess Zelda gives Link the Light Arrows in the Temple of Time near the climax of OoT.

When Link plays the any of the temple songs that Sheik teaches him in Ocarina of Time, it brings him to the entrance of the respective temple of the song he plays. The Prelude of Light brings Link to the Temple of Time. What can we deduce from this?

Yes, that the Temple of Time Guards the entrance to the sacred realm, which, within it, is situated the temple of light. This doesnt prove in the slightest that what link entered was actually the light temple. It still seems more likely that Link entered an extention of the temple of time because there is absolutly no evidence that he entered the sacred realm, which would be required to enter the light temple.

The references to light exist because of the Temple of Time's role of guarding the temple of light and the sacred realm. It offers no indication of the back section of the temple of time actually being the temple of light.

Originally Posted by Blue fire

Yes, that the Temple of Time Guards the entrance to the sacred realm, which, within it, is situated the temple of light. This doesnt prove in the slightest that what link entered was actually the light temple. It still seems more likely that Link entered an extention of the temple of time because there is absolutly no evidence that he entered the sacred realm, which would be required to enter the light temple.

Perhaps this is what happens when Link enters the "Time Door." Or perhaps this happens when he goes through the window pane that is revealed to be a portal when Link inserts the Master Sword into the Pedestal of Time.

I'm still waiting for your own explaination as to why the Light symbol is displayed so prominently all over the Temple of Time.

I'm still waiting for your own explaination as to why the Light symbol is displayed so prominently all over the Temple of Time.

The light symbol is so prominent because the temple of time guards the sacred realm which contains the temple of light, not because it is the temple of light.

Additionally, the dominion rod was used from generation to generation in the past to stay in contact with the Occa. It seems strange that the Hylians would choose to place it in the centre of the temple of light in the sacred realm, when that place was supposed to be guarded, to protect the triforce, and would be extremely hard to access.