Lesser Hyrule
Lesser Hyrule is a recurring location in The Legend of Zelda series.(TAoLThe Adventure of Link)[1] It is the name of the area where The Legend of Zelda and part of the The Adventure of Link takes place. It is the canonical origin of many recurring locations in the Zelda series, including Death Mountain, the Lost Woods, Lake Hylia, the Lost Hills, a graveyard, an eastern forest region, an eastern coastal region, and a waterfall in which Zora reside. The desert region is located in the center of Hyrule rather than its more-common depiction to the southwest. Lesser Hyrule is home to Hylians, River Zora, and friendly Moblins. There are also a variety of monsters, many of whom are working for Ganon.
History
Lesser Hyrule is the location where Ganon executed his attempted coup of the Hyrulean Royal Family. After Ganon claimed the Triforce of Power, Zelda split the Triforce of Wisdom into 8 shards. Ganon kidnapped Zelda and hid her in Level 9. Impa then recruited Link to reassemble the Triforce of Wisdom, defeat Ganon and rescue Princess Zelda.
Later, Lesser Hyrule is the location where Link finds the Hammer while traveling to get the Triforce of Courage. After traveling through the labyrinth of caverns in Death Mountain, Link returned to Spectacle Rock and found the Hammer.
Government
Lesser Hyrule is ruled by its monarch, Princess Zelda, who was kidnapped by Ganon following her successful splitting of the Triforce of Wisdom. Unable to reform the Triforce, Ganon hid it away in the dungeons of the Underworld. At this point, there are no surviving settlements on the surface, and all the residents of Lesser Hyrule have been forced into caves.
To the north of Lesser Hyrule is Hyrule Kingdom, where Princess Zelda traditionally rules from. Hyrule has four thriving Villages, three royal Palaces, and the North Castle.
Lynels guard Death Mountain and are thought of as guardian deities of Death Mountain.[2] There is no mention of worship of the three Golden Goddesses or Hylia.
Currency
The main currency is Rupees.
Geography
The Lesser Hyrule map is composed of a 16x8 map grid. Death Mountain is to the north, with Spectacle Rock, the unnamed waterfall with the White Sword cave at its source, the Lost Hills and the entrances to Level 5 and Level 9. Lake Hylia is in the center with entrances to Level 1 and Level 4. The graveyard is to the west with the Magical Sword cave and the entrance to Level 6. The Lost Woods are to the southwest, with the entrances to Level 3 and Level 7. To the south is the starting area with the Sword-Giving Old Man. To the east is the unnamed eastern forest, with the entrances to Level 2 and Level 8. The desert is located just to the northwest of this unnamed forest. The coast is located to the southeast.
Races of Lesser Hyrule
There are four common races located in Lesser Hyrule: Hylians, Moblins, Goriyas and River Zora. All River Zora are unfriendly to Link, unlike some of their counterparts in other games. The entire Hylian population consists of Old Men, Old Women and Merchants. There are also 11 friendly Moblins who provide Link with free Rupees. There is also a friendly Goriya who must be given Bait, living in Level 7.
Trivia
- Lesser Hyrule is located in the northeast corner of the A Link to the Past, A Link Between Worlds and Echoes of Wisdom map, according to Zelda Encyclopedia. The book argues that Spectacle Rock, the unnamed waterfall, the graveyard, and the Lost Woods are the same locations as in A Link to the Past.
Nomenclature
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| This table was generated using translation pages. To request an addition, please contact a staff member with a reference. | ||
References
- ↑ Hyrule Historia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 106 (TAoLThe Adventure of Link)
- ↑
デスマウンテンに近づく者を撃退する守り神。A guardian deity that repels those who approach Death Mountain.
(The Legend of Zelda manual, pg. 29)