As Sheik once said: “Time passes, people move…Like a river’s flow, it never ends. A childish mind will turn to noble ambition… Young love will become deep affection… .” For Hyrule and its people, these words of wisdom prove to be true. As time passes, things change. The people grow older and wiser, their monuments and deities come and go; but as all this goes, there is one thing that defies this notion. Whether it be the joyous days of the past or the grim fate of the future, the Temple of Time remains the same, untouched by the changes of time.
Link is instructed to enter this temple once he has collected the three Spiritual Stones. This is because the door guarding the sacred treasure of the temple can not be opened without them. Link will enter the towering cathedral to visit a large room. There is not much inside the vast hall though, only a platform, a pedestal, and a stairway leading to a grand door. Beams of light shimmer down from the wide windows, guiding the young hero to the pedestal where he is to place his found treasures.
Once Link has placed the Spiritual Stones — the Kokiri’s Emerald, Goron’s Ruby, and Zora Sapphire, and in that order respectively — on the pedestal and plays the “Song of Time” on the sacred Ocarina of Time, something spectacular will occur. The Triforce engraved above the locked door will shine bright, and the stone door will part, allowing Link to enter the second and final room.
Link will enter the tall, spacious chamber, only to be met with a single point of interest. In this game, the Temple of Time is not a dungeon, but it is just as important. It houses one of if not the most legendary items known in Zelda history: the Master Sword. Elevated above ground level, the sword has its own platform, surrounded by an engraving that foreshadows each Spiritual Medallion Link will have to retrieve at a later time.
After pulling the sword from the stone, Link is taken to the Sacred Realm for seven years. After he is told of his destiny, he is returned to that very place where he first picked up the blade. Knowing the sanctity of this temple, Sheik, who has been waiting for Link’s return, is the first one to greet him upon arrival. He tells Link where to find the sages and sends him on his way. Link enters this new Hyrule, which is ruined and bleak. Still, the Temple of Time remains the same.
In the future, the Temple is a safe haven for Link amongst the chaos. It’s a place to return to after each trying battle, the setting of one of the most iconic reveals in Zelda history, and the background for a heartbreaking farewell. In terms of structure, the building, while beautiful, might not represent more than a mere cathedral, but in a sentimental significance, this area houses much more than what meets the eye.
