+Sam Easton It's so awesome...these games were sooooooo well done. The spirit temple music, man I used to leave my N64 on all night (I know, probably not good for it, but I was like 6 years old lol) and I'd listen to that music all night when I couldn't sleep.
Hmm, considering that the royal family seems to be a dominant absolute monarchy, I actually think the Shadow Temple may have been their way to enforce the submission of their subjects, not unlike the Bastille during the Bourbon dynasty in France. And considering the Royal Family's close ties with the Sheikah, and the Sheikah's connections to Kakariko Village and the Shadow Temple, it is likely that the Sheikah might have been the government's secret service, which would earn them the title "people of the shadows". The Sheikah could have been the jailors and torturers at the Shadow Temple, obtaining information and disposing of traitors in the name of the Hyrulean Crown.
The Bastille wasn't an actual torture sight, though. Reports over it housing political enemies under horrible conditions where plain wrong. By the time it was "liberated" at the beginning of the revolution, it only housed a few inmates, who where all actual criminals, and their standard of living was pretty good.
Funny... That is exactly what I am working on since a while... A Story about the war telling what happened in the war. And I had the same idea of putting links father in it. I allways thought that the story of Bongo and his role in the war is the most interesting, just because of the fact, that his dark and evil spirit seems to exist not because of ganondorfs actions.
yes it would be Awesome. I wish there was more to fill in all the lore of Hyrule. They can start an Anime and a Manga series while they're at it. Why not add a Novel as well for good measure ^^
That would 100% best hyrule warriors that's for sure . Maybe make it a battlefront style game have a conquest mode with a narration in the background for each campaign mission
Actually, the first room with the scythe spining could be an effective way of torture, the wooden pieces on the floor and chains could indicate that the prisiones could be tied up with their necks somewhat stiff to the wooden piece. The reaper scythe could be avoided but only by dodging it, otherwise it could cut part of your head, this way the tortured one MUST dodge it or commit suicide. Depraving it from any form of sleep or rest, if its all about the scythe they will eventually go nuts.
For me, the shadow temple seems to be a place that holds a lot to f the secrets kept hidden by the royal family. One of which was how they dealt with their prisoners. In some ways, the eye of truth might sort of represent link’s loss of innocence.
I am thinking that bongo bongo was an enemy leader, And as you said, played the bongo either as a signal, or as a war cry. When he was captured, the hylian forces may have thought it ironic to sever Bongo Bongo's hands as a way of torture, that is why the hands are apart from the body and the wrists look like they are blackened. black because that's how Japan does blood in "kid-friendly" media
I'm pretty sure Bong Bong was originally sealed at the bottom of the well. That had a pretty good seal on it too. It could only be undone by playing the song of storms inside the windmill. The song of storms as you mention could only be found in a completely different kingdom too.
I actually never noticed the wall of bones in dead hands room before, and ive always wondered what it was Bongo Bongo was saying or singing. Also if you use the Song of Storms while standing in the center of the room at 1:28 its kind of cool. Oh and if you use the Lens of Truth on the second Dead Hand fight you can see him in the ground, or at least a black circle letting you know where exactly he is.
0:19 I personally prefer to complete this Temple first and before the Spirit Temple. The reason for this is because the word for four in Japanese is "shi," which also is the word for "death." Fun bit of trivia :D EDIT: 333 comments now :D
When me and one of my friends from school were playing through Ocarina Of Time, when we got to the Shadow Temple, my friend had a theory that Bongo Bongo was the man who owned the "lens of truth" since someone in the game said that his "house stood where the well is now". He had an interesting theory that Bongo Bongo became a criminal or was already and was using the lens of truth for evil, was executed and thrown down into the well, where his spirit then escaped into the Shadow Temple. His theory even has decent evidence backing it since BB looks like he was tortured, then dismembered (his hands)
I'd love to see your take on the Oceanside Spiderhouse. Who originally lived there? Why are there portraits of Skull Kid inside? Why was it sealed off?
It's more of a catacomb than a mausoleum. Also, 2:07 you forgot that there are chains right next to the scythes. You can't avoid the scythes if you are chained, right? Anyway, this temple is the most interesting, in my opinion. It seems to be a combination of catacombs and a maximum security prison. And I'd argue that yes, the Royal Family is responsible for the Shadow Temple. Why? "Shadow Temple. Here is gathered Hyrule's bloody history of *greed* and hatred." Greed. Royal families are wealthy. Wealthy folk are often greedy. Greed is a "deadly sin", a really bad thing. Then there's hatred. Why do people hate? Maybe the Hyrule Royal Family isn't/wasn't good as one might believe. There is enough text on some games to speculate entire theories on the Royal Family. (Who are [or can be] the good guys and bad guys who partook in the Hyrule civil war??) I have my own theory but I think it might be fun for you to do if you haven't done so already. :)
I think you were right on about your theory with the ferry. It seems to me that the Shadow Temple was originally a mausoleum for the Hyrulean royal family and that the ferry was to be used as part of their funeral procession to guide their spirits into the underworld--metaphorically at least.
There's a place in Paris, I believe, where the people collected all the bones in all the cemeteries to make room for the living aboveground. When they put all the bones together, they were able to create a massive underground maze created entirely from the bones. It's possible that the Shadow Temple was likewise created from exhumed bones. Or perhaps its construction was a testament to the amount of lives that fell in the civil war.
I've enjoyed all your videos so far, you seem to share a few of my own theories, and you've also brought some to light that I had never really pieced together before. I check your channel quite often for new content, and am looking forward to see what the future of your channel holds. Keep up the great work, and God bless :). P.S. You have a beautiful voice :)
this is really interesting. i also have a theory that suggests the sheikah were responsible for whatever was going on in the shadow temple. in twilight princess, they mention the dark interlopers which wanted to take the trifroce and i think those were people of sheikah descent. i always had a feeling the sheikah weren't always good since they are literally "people of shadow" which implies darkness. i think after the evil sheikahs, or dark interlopers, tried to steal the triforce, they used the shadow temple as a torture center for the sheikahs and afterwards, the sheikah swore their loyalty to the royal family in order to end the torture. but that's just my 2 cents. very cool theory!!
The Sheikah have been loyal to the descendants of the Goddess Hylia for a very long time, way before the events where the interlopers decided they wanted to obtain the Triforce. The Sheikah are the most knowledgeable about the Triforce, evidenced by the huge amount of legends from the Sheikah that are passed on to Link during the game. It is highly possible that a small group decided they no longer wanted to be mere "shadows" of the Hylians they were sworn to protect (the Royal Family) and that they wanted to obtain the incredible power described in the ancient legends. The Sheikah do share some resemblances to the Twili , like the preference to reside in the shadows and the red eyes. During the events of Ocarina if Time, Impa and Sheik are referred to as being the last of the Sheikah. It's possible the vast majority of them died during the war, or were banished to the Twilight Realm. Since the door to the shadow temple is sealed using Sheikah methods, it could be the case they wanted to hide it, but it's more likely they were instructed to seal it by the Royal family.
If the only way to acces shadow temple is with the hookshot, why does dampe have one, was he not only protecting the graveyard but also the entrance to the temple. He should have been a sage.
Thanks so much for making all of these videos. I am loving listening to all of these while I'm at work. Finding it all really interesting. I love Zelda. Thank you!
Awesome, butttt. Could you please do the Arbiter's Grounds? It's the most mysterious and best dungeon in all of Zelda,' even beating both the SHadow temple and Stone Tower Temple.
This was one of the best theories I've ever heard. Honestly, I've never given the Temple's background much thought, but now I'm off to see all your other vids.
I find the Arbiter's Grounds more creepy personally. The music gives me chills. Even when I played this game at 8 years old, somehow, the Shadow Temple didn't creep me out.
I guess it would be safe to assume that the Sheikah were the overseers of the prison within it. I haven't got a dictionary on me right now but temple implies that in some way this place was to worship a deity of sorts or maybe possibly just to honour the dead By the way your theories are very insightful and you've clearly payed good attention to detail. Your pretty good at this
Wow I just discovered your channel today . I'm actually watching your temple theories playlist . I never really knew that his body was hanging upside down . That's pretty cool ! I just try to defeat him as fast as possible to get out from that temple since it always freaked me out lol nice video ! I definitely subscribed
You know what I found intriguing? Portraits like 0:52 can be found all throughout the shadow temple and the well. What do you suppose that means? And what exactly is it a portrait of?
+smawzyv Those portraits mean that you need to use the Lens Of Truth to get to a different area. I believe that it maybe looks like another important person in the civil war.
Oh man. The video of the Shadow Temple is 8 minutes long. After the downer that was the Forest Temple video is gonna be fuuuuuuuuuuuun. >.> My half-jokes aside, these are great stuff. Super glad I found this channel.
I would wager that the skeletal aesthetic in the area of the temple with Dead Hand is based on the Parisian Catacombs. In both the shadow temple and in the catacombs, the walls are adorned with human remains. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catacombs_of_Paris
I really liked this one. Shadow Temple is my favorite place--ever--so the fact that this theory was good was satisfying. I love the idea of Dead Hand being used on victims who refused to talk. omfg That's some heavy shit. I love it. Especially the burning skulls being cremation devices. I also liked how you referred to the sound that plays during Bongo-Bongo's theme as 'singing.' I knew about that strange sound, but the idea it's singing is sooo creepy and makes some lore sense if it was a bard of sorts for a war since they had that during ancient times in real life. It also makes sense that the Shadow Temple started as a mausoleum that was defiled so therefore shut off. The defilement of the Shadow Temple being a huge mausoleum would make sense for why Hyrule Field is so fucking haunted. lol One thing I want to add, even though it's a bit out there. First to reference Bloodborne, the mark of the hunter is an upside-down stick figure and in the game you see people hanging upside-down from the ceiling. In real life (and in the game, which is blood obsessed), people were often decapitated and hung upside-down as a form of bloodletting, in which huge portions of blood needed to be collected for whatever purpose. You pointed out that Bongo-Bongo hangs upside-down from the ceiling. Bongo-Bongo not only looks like it had it's head cut off, but also it's hands are not attached to it's body and it does look like it has amputated stumps. So to go along with your torture theory, Bongo-Bongo, if it ever was human or even a beast, might have been a victim of bloodletting. There's even a Scottish tale of a war drummer who was captured by the opposing side and had their hands cut off as a sort of "gotcha" message to their opponents.
The bloodstains were indeed removed in the 3DS version...."Bloody Reapers" as I refer to them are only present in the cartridge version of Ocarina, and it has to be the 1st gen cartridges, otherwise blood on the scythes was removed and ingame blood is colored green to be "family friendly"
VortexxyGaming Actually I think there is more to bongo bongo remember as a child when you enter kakariko village and talk to the guy who stands next to the well and he says and i quote "there once was a house here where an old man lived who's eyes could see the truth his house stood where the well is now" i think that the man was captured, tortured and killed inside the shadow temple and his soul did not know rest thus feeding off the hatred and greed inside the temple that transformed him into bongo bongo.
There's Wallmasters, which drop down from the ceiling and take you back to a different room, and Floormasters, which walk on the floor and try to strangle you.
There we go lol. I've been playing other Zelda games and entirely forgot some of the enemies in OOT. Either way, they both suck a duck lol. Thanks for the clarification!
They're in other Zelda games, but not Twilight Princess, I don't think. I've been playing the hell out of that one lately lol. But, I remember a Wallmaster from Link Between Worlds that was super, super annoying and just constantly hovered above you as you go through a lava level...In Windwaker, which I haven't played in awhile, the hands that have the black holes underneath them, I wonder if they're considered a floormaster...Because they bring you back places...so technically that'd be a wallmaster, right?
Angel of Retribution The ones in wind waker are Floormasters, but they do have that annoying Wallmaster grab. Twilight Princess doesn't have either one, but I guess the hands in the Twilight Palace can be considered similar?
***** Yeah, I looked it up after I posted that haha they are floormasters. Yeah and I find with Zelda they recycle ideas here and there to add accents from previous games to maintain a certain theme or to show some kind of relevance to previous games lol. Which, in it of itself, is super cool :D I love the cultural aspects too. It seems like the Legend of Zelda touches a lot of different cultural themes. African (Majora's Mask), Native American (Kakariko, Twilight Princess), Celtic, etc. Some of the mythology behind names and stuff too :D Like Epona, the goddess and protector of horses in early Celtic mythology. There's so much substance to the games and the histories of the games...It's just wonderful.
“The Shadow Temple, located in the Kakariko Village graveyard. It is a place where the Sheikah, entrusted with the lives of Hyrule’s royal family, have historically taken enemies of the royal family to be interrogated or worse. Because it stands as a symbol of Hyrule’s dark history, it is taboo for the royal family to speak of this temple and its horrific purpose” -Hyrule Encyclopedia (pg. 44)
They literally say that this place hides the secrets of Hyrule's dark and bloody past. I think Hyrule's first king was a bad man who built his kingdom on the bodies of those who would oppose him. After his death the shadow temple was built to hide the horrible truth. Bongo bongo is the kings evil spirit that Ganondorf woke up.
The Shadow Temple belonged to the Sheikah tribe who serves as bodyguards and secret agents to the Hylian royal family. However, it is a common point in the game that they are a dying race with only a scant few members of the tribe still remaining throughout the the land, such as Impa, as well as Kafei from Majora's Mask. Given the Sheikah are commonly based on ninjas and secret agents, it's likely they were in charge of the interrogation and torture of prisoners during the war.
well it is true but according other theories and sources there were a faction of sheikah tribesmen that rose up during the civil call the interlopers or now know as the twili. and most sheikah tribe were wiped out by the hylians and royal family.
Dan Baldwick Listen, I understand that this might be creepy for many children but many of us in the comments played it as a child as well and at least I am perfectly fine. I think that being too careful isn't good, I will definetly let my children play this because I think it's an awesome game. Yes the shadow temple is creepy but the world is creepy and why always cover kids in cotton? I won't be a bad mum or something, if my child will be too scared of this I will comfort it and not let it play it for a while but sometimes a little fear won't leave any damage or anything than a great experience. Because we should face that almost all of us are happy that they played this as a child.
Here's my theory on Bongo Bongo. Bongo Bongo was Sheikah. He is the man who is said to be able to "See the Truth" as spoken before and lived where the well is. However at some point other Sheikah realized that he was a Thief and stole something (possibly the lens of truth) that resulted in his hands getting severed from his body. (a common punishment for thieves). After which The Sheikah searched his house and found along with the lens of truth that he had kidnapped and tortured other people in his basement(The bottom of the well is littered with bodies and torture devices). Clearly a psychopath, the Sheikah execute him by decapitation (His head is clearly severed from his body and his eye is shown where his spine and organs should be)
I believe the Shadow Temple was originally a monument to The Interloper War in eons past, then used by the Sheikah and Hyruleans during the more recent Civil War.
I'm trying to place the melody Bongo Bongo is singing, since there's a reasonable chance that a melody in an odd place in a Zelda game has a meaning. At first I thought it was could be the theme that plays when you free an animal deity in TP, but it's not quite the same notes (and I have no idea why that would be a connection). Anyone have any insight here?
OH! Bongo Bongo hangs upside down?! I never even noticed that XD I though the eye was where his intestines would be and the part on top was his neck... damn that makes it creepier
"Dead Hand was likely used on victims who refused to talk, or already fulfilled their purpose"... what a way to summarize the end of some dark interrogations!
You can still find them in the Child timeline after oot :) they reappear in Four swords. Just because they don't make an appearance doesn't mean they got wiped out. Twilight Princess and FS are proof of that ^^
***** that's great to know! I forget where the games place sometimes *blush*. I hope the new LoZ game falls under the Child Timeline (his getup in the teaser resembles Gerudo patterns, but maybe it's my wishful thinking more than anything else). Thanks for getting back to me :-D
I dont think any of the torture devices were used merely for intimidation . If you're a prisoner you arent gonna have free range to simple avoid the scythes. More than likely they'd be bond and tied .but one good way to scare prisoners into talking is with the invisible scythes ,push a prisoner into range while over prisoners watch in horror as a mysterious force decapitates there ally should be enough for them to spill them beans. You could even have dead hand detain prisoners with its arms.And with all the bones and blood I'm sure they had a high volume of executions
Well, it's 1:30 in the morning and I just got to the "Bongo Bongo" singing part....Won't be sleeping tonight.... Also, have you noticed that he is the one playing the drums for you the entire time you're in the temple?!
I never thought about it like that. It would make sense the drum-like sound in the background music for the bottom of the Well and shadow temple to be caused by Bongo Bongo.
About the reaper statues there are wood blocks on the ground you could chain people to them so they couldnt escape so in that way they could be used to behead people if you restrain them first.
The ship with triforce symbol reminds me of the ancient egyptians who believed that when people die, their soul was transported to the other world in a boat driving through the river of death or somethig like that. I think every of these temples was pretty and carefully designed not like Twilight princess where temples were tacky and boring.
Okay, never knew this zelda game was so dark. Hope netflix takes into account all the details in the Legends of Zelda universe. I hear it's going to be like game of thrones, but family friendly... sounds like a impossible task.
Also... On a side note. Bongo Bongo should have returnd in Spirit Tracks in some form. He/it sounds like a steamtrain warming up when the battle begins
The room with the cross was probably used for flaying people on it and torturing them. If you've ever seen Game of Thrones, they use a similar object for that intent.
Interesting tidbit about Bongo Bongo, the old man in Kakariko Village mentions a man who had an eye that could see the truth, and his house was where the well was now. Guess who escapes said well?
I'd love to see you cover the theory that the Sheikah built the Lanayru Mining Facility to harvest Timeshift Stones and create both the Doors of Time and the Ocarina of Time. Really anything about the Sheikah would be great :D
That's why I love fiction, it leaves us free to make up theories. OK you know how the US comes off as trying to look like heroes in the world but have organizations like the CIA? I think the Shiekas were the royal family's CIA and used the Shadow Temple to interrogate behind the Royal Family's back. Hyrule is a land of magic so it's only a matter of time a bad place becomes cursed. There were probably good Shiekas and overly patriotic Shiekas who are too loyal. The over patriotic ones could be the ones who made that place while the good ones with morals shut it down. This can explain part why the Shiekas in Hyrule broke apart.
Nice theory - also why the symbol of the Skeikah that serve the Royal family bears the teardrop. Maybe it is in memory of the atrocities done by their people beneath the well and within the Shadow Temple. Bongo Bongo may have been the main torturer - probably the man who lived above the Well and who created the Lens of Truth - but was executed for his war crimes by the Royal Family or the good Sheikah.
Well, it's severely implied the Sheikah were responsible for the torture inside the Shadow Temple. Sheikah, in general, are users of black magic and master of the royal secrets, so it fits the Temple being a secret underground interrogation lair. Let's not forget that Agahnim and Vaati were both Sheikah, or at least, versed in Sheikah secrets.
How do you know that its bongo bongo singing? :3, it could be a choir :p You have really intriguing, interesting videos btw. Cool insight, and keep up the good work!
Its obviously not a chior because you only hear that chanting when you fight bongo bongo and the boss music is the same for every boss except fire temple and dodongos cavern
Terrence Baker Excellent point; my apologies. Its been like 5 years since i've played any Zelda games (although I've played a bit of twilight princess a couple months ago, but thats irrelevant to my false claim last comment)
Gosh, that ambient music. Weather I'm 12 years old, or 26 years old, the music still gives me the willies.
The Bongo Bongo chant is disturbing..
But catchy!
😏
+Sam Easton It's so awesome...these games were sooooooo well done. The spirit temple music, man I used to leave my N64 on all night (I know, probably not good for it, but I was like 6 years old lol) and I'd listen to that music all night when I couldn't sleep.
Someone actually did an even MORE terrifying version of it...
When I was a kid I would always rush this area and the bottom of the well
I remember as a kid doing this dungeon scared the s**t out of me.
aaagh, i really want a game about the Hyrulean Civil War.
Hmm, considering that the royal family seems to be a dominant absolute monarchy, I actually think the Shadow Temple may have been their way to enforce the submission of their subjects, not unlike the Bastille during the Bourbon dynasty in France. And considering the Royal Family's close ties with the Sheikah, and the Sheikah's connections to Kakariko Village and the Shadow Temple, it is likely that the Sheikah might have been the government's secret service, which would earn them the title "people of the shadows". The Sheikah could have been the jailors and torturers at the Shadow Temple, obtaining information and disposing of traitors in the name of the Hyrulean Crown.
The Bastille wasn't an actual torture sight, though. Reports over it housing political enemies under horrible conditions where plain wrong.
By the time it was "liberated" at the beginning of the revolution, it only housed a few inmates, who where all actual criminals, and their standard of living was pretty good.
Wouldn't it be awesome if they made a game about this war end the game ends when Link is brought to the Great Deku Tree? :3
+Mariana Wong Oh damn, that sounds awesome! :D
Funny... That is exactly what I am working on since a while...
A Story about the war telling what happened in the war. And I had the same idea of putting links father in it.
I allways thought that the story of Bongo and his role in the war is the most interesting, just because of the fact, that his dark and evil spirit seems to exist not because of ganondorfs actions.
*calls nintendo* MAKE DIS GAEMMMMM
yes it would be Awesome.
I wish there was more to fill in all the lore of Hyrule. They can start an Anime and a Manga series while they're at it.
Why not add a Novel as well for good measure ^^
That would 100% best hyrule warriors that's for sure . Maybe make it a battlefront style game have a conquest mode with a narration in the background for each campaign mission
Actually, the first room with the scythe spining could be an effective way of torture, the wooden pieces on the floor and chains could indicate that the prisiones could be tied up with their necks somewhat stiff to the wooden piece. The reaper scythe could be avoided but only by dodging it, otherwise it could cut part of your head, this way the tortured one MUST dodge it or commit suicide. Depraving it from any form of sleep or rest, if its all about the scythe they will eventually go nuts.
I got something about the ferry, but I need to replay OoT to even dare to spill out this theory.
Zatiel.D LaBrie You just made things even more dark :P
Thanks
Zatiel.D LaBrie If I would be prisoned like you discribed in this scary temple, i would prefer to die quickly :)
Fantom Rockman
You won't, that is why its a torture >D
For me, the shadow temple seems to be a place that holds a lot to f the secrets kept hidden by the royal family. One of which was how they dealt with their prisoners. In some ways, the eye of truth might sort of represent link’s loss of innocence.
RATED E FOR EVERYONE MY ASS!
still really awesome though
XxxNinjasOfEventidexxX oh yeah this place creeped me out even when I was older when I finally beat this game
Thats probably the most hardcore rated E game i've seen !
Yeah I remember as a kid I used to get my brother to do this temple for me as the deadhand used to scare the living crap outer me 😂
Rated E for evil
Tabyus Kelly
That’s just hilarious to think about.
I am thinking that bongo bongo was an enemy leader, And as you said, played the bongo either as a signal, or as a war cry. When he was captured, the hylian forces may have thought it ironic to sever Bongo Bongo's hands as a way of torture, that is why the hands are apart from the body and the wrists look like they are blackened. black because that's how Japan does blood in "kid-friendly" media
You brought up some good points I hadn't considered. These are the kinds of videos I love. Definitely going to subscribe.
Thank you! I'm glad to hear you enjoy the videos!
I'm pretty sure Bong Bong was originally sealed at the bottom of the well. That had a pretty good seal on it too. It could only be undone by playing the song of storms inside the windmill. The song of storms as you mention could only be found in a completely different kingdom too.
I actually never noticed the wall of bones in dead hands room before, and ive always wondered what it was Bongo Bongo was saying or singing. Also if you use the Song of Storms while standing in the center of the room at 1:28 its kind of cool.
Oh and if you use the Lens of Truth on the second Dead Hand fight you can see him in the ground, or at least a black circle letting you know where exactly he is.
0:19
I personally prefer to complete this Temple first and before the Spirit Temple. The reason for this is because the word for four in Japanese is "shi," which also is the word for "death." Fun bit of trivia :D
EDIT: 333 comments now :D
Thanks for that interesting bit of trivia! I didn’t know that.🤔
I don't see those as wounds on the Dead Hand... I am pretty sure those are blood stains from victims.
That blood stained room with that wooden cross @4:08 scarred me as a kid! And I still hate this temple to this day because of it! 😖
When me and one of my friends from school were playing through Ocarina Of Time, when we got to the Shadow Temple, my friend had a theory that Bongo Bongo was the man who owned the "lens of truth" since someone in the game said that his "house stood where the well is now". He had an interesting theory that Bongo Bongo became a criminal or was already and was using the lens of truth for evil, was executed and thrown down into the well, where his spirit then escaped into the Shadow Temple. His theory even has decent evidence backing it since BB looks like he was tortured, then dismembered (his hands)
I'd love to see your take on the Oceanside Spiderhouse.
Who originally lived there? Why are there portraits of Skull Kid inside? Why was it sealed off?
Great suggestion :) I'll add it to my list.
It's more of a catacomb than a mausoleum. Also, 2:07 you forgot that there are chains right next to the scythes. You can't avoid the scythes if you are chained, right?
Anyway, this temple is the most interesting, in my opinion. It seems to be a combination of catacombs and a maximum security prison. And I'd argue that yes, the Royal Family is responsible for the Shadow Temple. Why? "Shadow Temple. Here is gathered Hyrule's bloody history of *greed* and hatred." Greed. Royal families are wealthy. Wealthy folk are often greedy. Greed is a "deadly sin", a really bad thing. Then there's hatred. Why do people hate?
Maybe the Hyrule Royal Family isn't/wasn't good as one might believe. There is enough text on some games to speculate entire theories on the Royal Family. (Who are [or can be] the good guys and bad guys who partook in the Hyrule civil war??) I have my own theory but I think it might be fun for you to do if you haven't done so already. :)
J hell yea agree
Man, this is mt favorite temple! :D I am so glad you talked about this.
I will never be able to play through the shadow temple the same way ever again... Just thinking about these things gives me the chills...
I think you were right on about your theory with the ferry. It seems to me that the Shadow Temple was originally a mausoleum for the Hyrulean royal family and that the ferry was to be used as part of their funeral procession to guide their spirits into the underworld--metaphorically at least.
Lunavarion It seems heavily inspired by that legend yes :)
Lunavarion Theres rooms made skulls?! how many people died in the Shadow Temple?
There's a place in Paris, I believe, where the people collected all the bones in all the cemeteries to make room for the living aboveground. When they put all the bones together, they were able to create a massive underground maze created entirely from the bones.
It's possible that the Shadow Temple was likewise created from exhumed bones. Or perhaps its construction was a testament to the amount of lives that fell in the civil war.
Tyfyter:I got bongophobia from this dungeons boss and you will too
I've enjoyed all your videos so far, you seem to share a few of my own theories, and you've also brought some to light that I had never really pieced together before. I check your channel quite often for new content, and am looking forward to see what the future of your channel holds. Keep up the great work, and God bless :). P.S. You have a beautiful voice :)
this is really interesting. i also have a theory that suggests the sheikah were responsible for whatever was going on in the shadow temple. in twilight princess, they mention the dark interlopers which wanted to take the trifroce and i think those were people of sheikah descent. i always had a feeling the sheikah weren't always good since they are literally "people of shadow" which implies darkness. i think after the evil sheikahs, or dark interlopers, tried to steal the triforce, they used the shadow temple as a torture center for the sheikahs and afterwards, the sheikah swore their loyalty to the royal family in order to end the torture. but that's just my 2 cents. very cool theory!!
The Sheikah have been loyal to the descendants of the Goddess Hylia for a very long time, way before the events where the interlopers decided they wanted to obtain the Triforce. The Sheikah are the most knowledgeable about the Triforce, evidenced by the huge amount of legends from the Sheikah that are passed on to Link during the game. It is highly possible that a small group decided they no longer wanted to be mere "shadows" of the Hylians they were sworn to protect (the Royal Family) and that they wanted to obtain the incredible power described in the ancient legends. The Sheikah do share some resemblances to the Twili , like the preference to reside in the shadows and the red eyes. During the events of Ocarina if Time, Impa and Sheik are referred to as being the last of the Sheikah. It's possible the vast majority of them died during the war, or were banished to the Twilight Realm. Since the door to the shadow temple is sealed using Sheikah methods, it could be the case they wanted to hide it, but it's more likely they were instructed to seal it by the Royal family.
I forgot to say I really like the Sheikah being the Twili part of your theory though. I'm going to look into that more for a possible video :)
If the only way to acces shadow temple is with the hookshot, why does dampe have one, was he not only protecting the graveyard but also the entrance to the temple. He should have been a sage.
José Fierro The hookshot was something that Dampé found in the ground sometime during Link's childhood. Perhaps it was buried there by the Sheikah?
Thanks so much for making all of these videos. I am loving listening to all of these while I'm at work. Finding it all really interesting. I love Zelda. Thank you!
i cant think very well when creepy music is playing
Awesome, butttt.
Could you please do the Arbiter's Grounds?
It's the most mysterious and best dungeon in all of Zelda,'
even beating both the SHadow temple and Stone Tower Temple.
I'm working on that one right now :)
***** YEaahhhh~!!
***** I don't even know what a butttt is.
***** Hhaha, I see,
It should have been this way.
Awesome, but could you please do etc,,
Rated E for everything here is freaking scary
This was one of the best theories I've ever heard. Honestly, I've never given the Temple's background much thought, but now I'm off to see all your other vids.
This might be my favorite theory of yours! Keep posting!
aww man dead hands bring back good good horrifying memories
I find the Arbiter's Grounds more creepy personally. The music gives me chills. Even when I played this game at 8 years old, somehow, the Shadow Temple didn't creep me out.
I guess it would be safe to assume that the Sheikah were the overseers of the prison within it. I haven't got a dictionary on me right now but temple implies that in some way this place was to worship a deity of sorts or maybe possibly just to honour the dead
By the way your theories are very insightful and you've clearly payed good attention to detail. Your pretty good at this
Wow I just discovered your channel today . I'm actually watching your temple theories playlist . I never really knew that his body was hanging upside down . That's pretty cool ! I just try to defeat him as fast as possible to get out from that temple since it always freaked me out lol nice video ! I definitely subscribed
shes like one of the BEST theorists ever
Christy Wakeen definitely the best !
You know what I found intriguing? Portraits like 0:52 can be found all throughout the shadow temple and the well. What do you suppose that means? And what exactly is it a portrait of?
+smawzyv Those portraits mean that you need to use the Lens Of Truth to get to a different area.
I believe that it maybe looks like another important person in the civil war.
Oh man. The video of the Shadow Temple is 8 minutes long. After the downer that was the Forest Temple video is gonna be fuuuuuuuuuuuun. >.>
My half-jokes aside, these are great stuff. Super glad I found this channel.
THANK YOU for mentioning Dead Hand....like the only theory of him I found...
I would wager that the skeletal aesthetic in the area of the temple with Dead Hand is based on the Parisian Catacombs. In both the shadow temple and in the catacombs, the walls are adorned with human remains. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catacombs_of_Paris
I really liked this one. Shadow Temple is my favorite place--ever--so the fact that this theory was good was satisfying. I love the idea of Dead Hand being used on victims who refused to talk. omfg That's some heavy shit. I love it. Especially the burning skulls being cremation devices. I also liked how you referred to the sound that plays during Bongo-Bongo's theme as 'singing.' I knew about that strange sound, but the idea it's singing is sooo creepy and makes some lore sense if it was a bard of sorts for a war since they had that during ancient times in real life. It also makes sense that the Shadow Temple started as a mausoleum that was defiled so therefore shut off. The defilement of the Shadow Temple being a huge mausoleum would make sense for why Hyrule Field is so fucking haunted. lol
One thing I want to add, even though it's a bit out there. First to reference Bloodborne, the mark of the hunter is an upside-down stick figure and in the game you see people hanging upside-down from the ceiling. In real life (and in the game, which is blood obsessed), people were often decapitated and hung upside-down as a form of bloodletting, in which huge portions of blood needed to be collected for whatever purpose. You pointed out that Bongo-Bongo hangs upside-down from the ceiling. Bongo-Bongo not only looks like it had it's head cut off, but also it's hands are not attached to it's body and it does look like it has amputated stumps. So to go along with your torture theory, Bongo-Bongo, if it ever was human or even a beast, might have been a victim of bloodletting. There's even a Scottish tale of a war drummer who was captured by the opposing side and had their hands cut off as a sort of "gotcha" message to their opponents.
Oh so thats what they meant, I heard someone say that they removed the blood in the 3ds version, so it meant that there is no blood on the sythes???
The bloodstains were indeed removed in the 3DS version...."Bloody Reapers" as I refer to them are only present in the cartridge version of Ocarina, and it has to be the 1st gen cartridges, otherwise blood on the scythes was removed and ingame blood is colored green to be "family friendly"
I want to see this level of scary, eeriness in Breath of the Wild 2 ... imagine
😁👍🏾
VortexxyGaming Actually I think there is more to bongo bongo remember as a child when you enter kakariko village and talk to the guy who stands next to the well and he says and i quote "there once was a house here where an old man lived who's eyes could see the truth his house stood where the well is now" i think that the man was captured, tortured and killed inside the shadow temple and his soul did not know rest thus feeding off the hatred and greed inside the temple that transformed him into bongo bongo.
With all the themes, timelines and stories, you could write a really, REALLY GOOD series... I can just imagine...
thank you for using n64 footage for these instead of the derpy looking DS version
I've been calling those hands the wall masters.... I don't remember ever hearing floor master?
There's Wallmasters, which drop down from the ceiling and take you back to a different room, and Floormasters, which walk on the floor and try to strangle you.
There we go lol. I've been playing other Zelda games and entirely forgot some of the enemies in OOT. Either way, they both suck a duck lol. Thanks for the clarification!
They're in other Zelda games, but not Twilight Princess, I don't think. I've been playing the hell out of that one lately lol. But, I remember a Wallmaster from Link Between Worlds that was super, super annoying and just constantly hovered above you as you go through a lava level...In Windwaker, which I haven't played in awhile, the hands that have the black holes underneath them, I wonder if they're considered a floormaster...Because they bring you back places...so technically that'd be a wallmaster, right?
Angel of Retribution The ones in wind waker are Floormasters, but they do have that annoying Wallmaster grab. Twilight Princess doesn't have either one, but I guess the hands in the Twilight Palace can be considered similar?
*****
Yeah, I looked it up after I posted that haha they are floormasters. Yeah and I find with Zelda they recycle ideas here and there to add accents from previous games to maintain a certain theme or to show some kind of relevance to previous games lol. Which, in it of itself, is super cool :D I love the cultural aspects too. It seems like the Legend of Zelda touches a lot of different cultural themes. African (Majora's Mask), Native American (Kakariko, Twilight Princess), Celtic, etc. Some of the mythology behind names and stuff too :D Like Epona, the goddess and protector of horses in early Celtic mythology. There's so much substance to the games and the histories of the games...It's just wonderful.
You have some of the most interesting Zelda theory videos out there.
“The Shadow Temple, located in the Kakariko Village graveyard. It is a place where the Sheikah, entrusted with the lives of Hyrule’s royal family, have historically taken enemies of the royal family to be interrogated or worse. Because it stands as a symbol of Hyrule’s dark history, it is taboo for the royal family to speak of this temple and its horrific purpose” -Hyrule Encyclopedia (pg. 44)
Will you ever cover the Lakebed Temple & The City in The Sky?
Yes :) I have a draft for a theory for both, it's just a matter of finding time haha.
They literally say that this place hides the secrets of Hyrule's dark and bloody past. I think Hyrule's first king was a bad man who built his kingdom on the bodies of those who would oppose him. After his death the shadow temple was built to hide the horrible truth. Bongo bongo is the kings evil spirit that Ganondorf woke up.
I think the bottom of the well and the shadow temple are connected somewhere. They're both located in Kakariko, and are pretty adjacent to each other.
this is what i miss from these new zelda games, the dark evil past of hyrule.
The Shadow Temple belonged to the Sheikah tribe who serves as bodyguards and secret agents to the Hylian royal family. However, it is a common point in the game that they are a dying race with only a scant few members of the tribe still remaining throughout the the land, such as Impa, as well as Kafei from Majora's Mask.
Given the Sheikah are commonly based on ninjas and secret agents, it's likely they were in charge of the interrogation and torture of prisoners during the war.
well it is true but according other theories and sources there were a faction of sheikah tribesmen that rose up during the civil call the interlopers or now know as the twili. and most sheikah tribe were wiped out by the hylians and royal family.
i think in wind waker the room that tingle carved out in his sell is a reffrence to the place at 3:19
Yah know, For kids!
Dan Baldwick E for Everyone!
+Dan Baldwick Thank you for the Hula-Hoop reference!
+Dan Baldwick Because everyone should have the chance to play this awesome game?
Dan Baldwick Listen, I understand that this might be creepy for many children but many of us in the comments played it as a child as well and at least I am perfectly fine. I think that being too careful isn't good, I will definetly let my children play this because I think it's an awesome game. Yes the shadow temple is creepy but the world is creepy and why always cover kids in cotton? I won't be a bad mum or something, if my child will be too scared of this I will comfort it and not let it play it for a while but sometimes a little fear won't leave any damage or anything than a great experience. Because we should face that almost all of us are happy that they played this as a child.
Here's my theory on Bongo Bongo.
Bongo Bongo was Sheikah. He is the man who is said to be able to "See the Truth" as spoken before and lived where the well is. However at some point other Sheikah realized that he was a Thief and stole something (possibly the lens of truth) that resulted in his hands getting severed from his body. (a common punishment for thieves). After which The Sheikah searched his house and found along with the lens of truth that he had kidnapped and tortured other people in his basement(The bottom of the well is littered with bodies and torture devices). Clearly a psychopath, the Sheikah execute him by decapitation (His head is clearly severed from his body and his eye is shown where his spine and organs should be)
you sound like a realtor trying to sell the temple to someone...no joke,id buy it.:D
I believe the Shadow Temple was originally a monument to The Interloper War in eons past, then used by the Sheikah and Hyruleans during the more recent Civil War.
I'm trying to place the melody Bongo Bongo is singing, since there's a reasonable chance that a melody in an odd place in a Zelda game has a meaning. At first I thought it was could be the theme that plays when you free an animal deity in TP, but it's not quite the same notes (and I have no idea why that would be a connection). Anyone have any insight here?
OH! Bongo Bongo hangs upside down?! I never even noticed that XD I though the eye was where his intestines would be and the part on top was his neck... damn that makes it creepier
I have a theory that Dead Hand is the ghost stuck in the toilet in Majora's Mask.
Very interesting, especially the part of Zelda's lullaby being functional in both the Shadow Temple AND the Bottom of the Well.
*_Rated E For Everyone_* *Miyamoto is a lunatic*
You mean aunoma? Right? He directs the series. Miyamoto only produces it.
But he didn't rate it...
"Dead Hand was likely used on victims who refused to talk, or already fulfilled their purpose"... what a way to summarize the end of some dark interrogations!
2:56 lmao the footage is how everyone kills that guy
lol knock that bitch back to the shadowy depths of hell from which it came. damn straight lol
Subscribed! Love the Spirit Temple theory! I wish Gerudos didn't disappear after OOT :-(
You can still find them in the Child timeline after oot :) they reappear in Four swords. Just because they don't make an appearance doesn't mean they got wiped out. Twilight Princess and FS are proof of that ^^
***** that's great to know! I forget where the games place sometimes *blush*. I hope the new LoZ game falls under the Child Timeline (his getup in the teaser resembles Gerudo patterns, but maybe it's my wishful thinking more than anything else). Thanks for getting back to me :-D
I dont think any of the torture devices were used merely for intimidation . If you're a prisoner you arent gonna have free range to simple avoid the scythes. More than likely they'd be bond and tied .but one good way to scare prisoners into talking is with the invisible scythes ,push a prisoner into range while over prisoners watch in horror as a mysterious force decapitates there ally should be enough for them to spill them beans. You could even have dead hand detain prisoners with its arms.And with all the bones and blood I'm sure they had a high volume of executions
Well, it's 1:30 in the morning and I just got to the "Bongo Bongo" singing part....Won't be sleeping tonight....
Also, have you noticed that he is the one playing the drums for you the entire time you're in the temple?!
I never thought about it like that. It would make sense the drum-like sound in the background music for the bottom of the Well and shadow temple to be caused by Bongo Bongo.
About the reaper statues there are wood blocks on the ground you could chain people to them so they couldnt escape so in that way they could be used to behead people if you restrain them first.
I love it!! Thanks you, VortexxyGaming :3 This will haunt my dreams tonight... oh god
I can't be the only one who's seeing the double meaning in the dead end sign
Back in the day Nintendo had balls, now everything has to be bright, colourful and poppy.
I agree, but their games have stayed consistently good.
RIP Vortex :( the best Zelda theorist out there
What happened?
The ship with triforce symbol reminds me of the ancient egyptians who believed that when people die, their soul was transported to the other world in a boat driving through the river of death or somethig like that. I think every of these temples was pretty and carefully designed not like Twilight princess where temples were tacky and boring.
As a child this was my favorite temple
please keep making videos. they are so good! when is your next one coming out???
Can't say, but not too long from now.
Since u need the lens of truth in most of the dungeon perhaps they told them if they could make it through the entire dungeon they could live
Okay, never knew this zelda game was so dark. Hope netflix takes into account all the details in the Legends of Zelda universe. I hear it's going to be like game of thrones, but family friendly... sounds like a impossible task.
HeWhoAnimates It sounds like it might work out...but it might not either :p
I reckon bongo bongo is hanging upside down with both of his hands and his head cut off and what you see is actually just his neck with no head
I did not understand that "to gain the eye of truth" meant that you needed to obtain an object. So I played the whole level without it....
Also... On a side note.
Bongo Bongo should have returnd in Spirit Tracks in some form. He/it sounds like a steamtrain warming up when the battle begins
The room with the cross was probably used for flaying people on it and torturing them. If you've ever seen Game of Thrones, they use a similar object for that intent.
Yep, House Bolton of the North. They flayed their enemies. Possible similarities.
perhaps a kind of crucifixion
Interesting tidbit about Bongo Bongo, the old man in Kakariko Village mentions a man who had an eye that could see the truth, and his house was where the well was now. Guess who escapes said well?
I'd love to see you cover the theory that the Sheikah built the Lanayru Mining Facility to harvest Timeshift Stones and create both the Doors of Time and the Ocarina of Time. Really anything about the Sheikah would be great :D
You know, sleep is overrated anyway...
When will you be posting because your ideas are actually really great
Thank you ill be looking forward to it :)
You should do one on the Sheikah. I think they're the most interesting tribe in Zelda. I have quite a few theories on them.
This is my fave video and theory of yours.
I hope it ain't a stretch to Bongo Bongo beating a war drum, but it sounds like he's saying "time to attack". Or, something along those lines.
When I saw little, I forced my mom to beat the temple, haha, good times. Great video. :)
I had my brother help me the first time I did Stone Tower Temple ;)
***** Haha stone tower also scared me too, well now that I think about it, most of the dungeon scared me. Lol
That's why I love fiction, it leaves us free to make up theories.
OK you know how the US comes off as trying to look like heroes in the world but have organizations like the CIA?
I think the Shiekas were the royal family's CIA and used the Shadow Temple to interrogate behind the Royal Family's back. Hyrule is a land of magic so it's only a matter of time a bad place becomes cursed.
There were probably good Shiekas and overly patriotic Shiekas who are too loyal. The over patriotic ones could be the ones who made that place while the good ones with morals shut it down. This can explain part why the Shiekas in Hyrule broke apart.
Nice theory - also why the symbol of the Skeikah that serve the Royal family bears the teardrop. Maybe it is in memory of the atrocities done by their people beneath the well and within the Shadow Temple. Bongo Bongo may have been the main torturer - probably the man who lived above the Well and who created the Lens of Truth - but was executed for his war crimes by the Royal Family or the good Sheikah.
I think the Twili fit into all that somehow, maybe the Twili are what the evil Sheikah (with the exception of Bongo Bongo) became
The Twili are also thought to be the tribe who used Majora's Mask in it's hexing rituals
PBL187
I had to restore your comments. They were marked as spam.
dead hand ran the shadow temple and the well
you should check the video on the shadow temple by MP it's in your video subjection
DAMN Good theory!! Keep it up 👏👏👍😁
As a kid I also had my older brother finish the shadow temple for me because it was just too creepy XD
Such a fucked up temple. I loved it!
Oh and Bongo Bongo is the coolest boss ever
I'm glad to know I wasn't the only one creeped out enough to have someone play the game for me when I was a kid. It was...yeah....
I love these a lot! Their very interesting and you have a lovely voice! i always thought it was pronounced "sheek" and "shee-kai" though lol
It is, sort of. I'm going to use sheek -ah in future videos ;)
+VortexxyGaming A+ job on this one. Been playing Zelda games since Links Awakening in the late 90's but this is all new information!
Well, it's severely implied the Sheikah were responsible for the torture inside the Shadow Temple.
Sheikah, in general, are users of black magic and master of the royal secrets, so it fits the Temple being a secret underground interrogation lair.
Let's not forget that Agahnim and Vaati were both Sheikah, or at least, versed in Sheikah secrets.
How do you know that its bongo bongo singing? :3, it could be a choir :p
You have really intriguing, interesting videos btw. Cool insight, and keep up the good work!
Its obviously not a chior because you only hear that chanting when you fight bongo bongo and the boss music is the same for every boss except fire temple and dodongos cavern
Terrence Baker Excellent point; my apologies. Its been like 5 years since i've played any Zelda games (although I've played a bit of twilight princess a couple months ago, but thats irrelevant to my false claim last comment)
@@terrencebaker7839 and its actually an excerpt from the same chanting that got removed from the fire temple LOL