r/truezelda • u/LapisLazuliisthebest • 9d ago
Open Discussion [ALL] Religions of Hyrule Part 3: The Gorons (Also includes New Hyrule)
Part 2 is here: [All] Religions of Hyrule Part 2: Zora and Rito : r/truezelda
The Gorons
In contrast to the Zora, Goron religion doesn't realy put much enthesis on individual gods. The exception being in ST, but I'll get to that later.
The main focus of Goron beliefs revolved around "Hero Worship". This is reflected in their temples, which house weapons once used by an ancient hero, such as the Megaton Hammer in the Fire Temple and the Hero's Bow in Goron Mines. The Gorons of Termina revear Darmani.
There's a popular theory that Volvagia, remembered as an "evil dragon, who ate Gorons", may have been the Death Mountain Guardian in the past, who was trying to protect the Mountain from the Gorons, but ended up getting killed by the Goron "Hero". Of course, as they say "History is written by the winners".
It's possible this "Goron hero" may have become the Sage of Fire, replacing Volvagia as the temple's guardian and object of worship.
This hero worship is also shown in BotW, with an entire Mount Rushmore-type monument to Daruk, plus several other past heroes.
ST Mountain Goddess
In ST, the Gorons do have a deity. The Mountain Goddess. We never see this figure, the Gorons so have a shrine dedicated to her.
It's always been my headcanon that the Gorons in ST are from old Hyrule, but moved to New Hyrule after the flood, as the small islands weren't suitable for them.
One possibility is that this "Mountain Goddess" is actually Din, who the Gorons may have thought blessed them with a large volcanic paradise.
New Hyrule
Since I'm talking about New Hyrule anyway, I might as well get this over and done with.
New Hyrule worship the "Spirits of Good" (or the "Gods of Light" in Japan). The Lokomo act as their servants, who protect the land.
Other then the Goron's Mountain Goddess, there's not realy any distinct religions to talk about.
Part 4 is here: [ALL] Religions of Hyrule Part 4: The forest folk. : r/truezelda
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u/Agent-Ig 9d ago
Additional small info on the “Spirits of Good”, in the original Japanese their name translates to “gods of light” (光の神 (Hikari no Kami)). Which tracks with the multiple light related relics we get in the game (Tears of Light, Sword of Light (Lokomo Sword), Bow of Light, Compass of Light). Why NoA demoted them to be Spirits of the concept of Good is unclear.