The 15 Most Awesome References in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

From the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Image from Nintendo Switch version taken by C. Wassenaar and via Nintendo.

12. The Springs of the Goddesses

For the most part, the goddesses Din, Farore, and Nayru, who created the realm of Hyrule as well as the Triforce per Ocarina of Time, don’t receive recognition throughout the game. However, their three attributes — power, courage, and wisdom respectively — name three springs that you can find strewn across Hyrule. In fact, you’ll find one of Link’s lost memories at one of the springs. No, we won’t tell you which. (We suspect, though, that you know Link’s closely associated with Farore, and even bears the Triforce of Courage in games like Ocarina. Ditto with Zelda, Nayru, and the Triforce of Courage.)

The idea of Zelda going to pray at these springs for power isn’t particularly new, either. Throughout Skyward Sword, Link follows her as she reaches each of them to awaken her powers. The white dress Breath Zelda wears for these pilgrimages is a clear visual reference, though it removes the sleeves and substitutes golden bangles instead. (Here’s Skyward Sword Zelda for reference.)

In fact, the springs also have dragons close to them, as they do in Skyward. Admittedly, Lanayru, Eldin, and Faron have been replaced with Naydra, Dinraal, and Farosh, and the latter three don’t speak, but it’s pretty clearly meant to be a nod to them as well.