Zelda: A Compendium of Sheikah: Sheikah and Eye Symbols

Please note that like the Theories section, some of this up in the air and many of these symbols may have nothing to do with the Sheikah at all.

THE SHEIKAH SYMBOL

The Sheikah Symbol is a simple eye, with three triangular disconnected eyelashes above the eye, and a single teardrop flowing from the bottom, with two curved upward eyelashes coming off the side. This symbol or what is believed to be this symbol appears in every single Zelda game barring A Link Between Worlds. This section will cover every game individually with every known Sheikah or Eye Symbol.

SKYWARD SWORD

Skyward Sword possesses four known occurrences of an Eye Symbol, not counting the ones on Impa herself. They are on Gossip Stones, Sheikah Stones, Timeshift Stones, and a door in the Faron Woods. The Gossip Stones are summoned when playing the Goddess’s Harp near a pack of Blessed Butterflies. Like Gossip Stones in other games, they have unique characteristics when certain things are done to them and appear to be made of something other than just simple stone.

Sheikah Stones exist in two places during Skyward Sword; The Sparring Hall and Eldin Volcano. They work relatively similar in Skyward Sword to the Gossip Stones and react the same way to bombs, blasting off into the sky.

Timeshift Stones are a very curious design and function a very curious way. While this is not the traditional Sheikah Symbol we see, it does bare very similar resemblances. It consists of an eye, with two curved upward eyelashes on the side, three lines to represent the teardrop, and a very stylized set of ‘eyelashes’. The design here is seen on a vast number of technological contraptions within the Zelda series. They also conveniently also have a color tone of purples and blues, like the Sheikah, who according to Breath of the Wild, were an advanced civilization.

In Skyward Sword Timeshift Zones create a temporal shift radius that reverts an area to its state centuries prior. They are only located within the Lanayru Province and Lanayru Mines. Only one stone may be active at any one time (however this may be for simple gameplay purposes only).

The orange door within Faron Woods is used to protect both Zelda and Impa and is opened up fairly early in the game, it has stylized chains around the outside used as a type of sealing device.

MINISH CAP, FOUR SWORDS, AND FOUR SWORDS ADVENTURE

The only eye symbol present within these games, is those of Vaati. Whether on his person, or on stained glass such as the one in Dark Hyrule Castle in Minish Cap. Vaati himself and the theories surrounding him will be detailed in a separated section however.

OCARINA OF TIME

The first game to officially declare the Sheikah Symbol as an eye with a teardrop and eyelashes, it appears in a variety of places. Not counting the times it appears on both Impa and Sheik’s clothing, it appears on the Gossips Stones, the Lens of Truth, inside the Shadow Temple, and on the Mask of Truth.

The Gossip Stones of Ocarina of Time function almost entirely similarly like the ones in Skyward Sword. They both react strangely to items or songs played to them, but a tad different and variant. These Gossip Stones however do not need to be summoned from a pack of Blessed Butterflies. Curiously they tell the time when struck by a sword, a possibly connected to the Timeshift Stones. Though this is likely due to the fact that Majora’s Mask was originally meant to be a part of Ocarina of Time and was strictly for gameplay purposes to tell when certain side-quests would activate or deactivate.

The Lens of Truth is a rather curious item found at the Bottom of the Well in Kakariko Village, the Sheikah Village. It is only accessible after managing to drain the water with Zelda’s Lullaby, the Royal Family Song and the defeat of Dead Hand, a disturbing abomination. The Lens of Truth allows one to see things otherwise unseen. This includes things that are invisible outright or things that are activated that end up invisible or even enemies themselves who are not naturally invisible at times. It too has a purple tone to it.

The Shadow Temple upon entering bears a large stone door with the Sheikah Symbol on it, only to be opened by ritually burning every torch at once, on a curious Pedestal that bears the Fire Medallion Symbol. Within the Shadow Temple, you find horrific devices used to torture and punish, and a brief excerpt talking of Hyrule’s Bloody History of Greed and Hatred. This most likely references the Unification War that had taken place a decade past. Whether the Shadow Temple was a torturous prison for Criminals against the Royal Family or strictly a place the Sheikah used themselves is up for debate.

The last Sheikah Symbol noticed is on the Mask of Truth sold by the Happy Mask Salesman once his side-quest is complete. Its function is largely useless other than allowing one the ability to oddly talk to the Gossip Stones and learn random tidbits of information that goes on around Hyrule. Based on the knowledge they know and where they know it, it stands to reason that perhaps the Gossip Stones like in Skyward Sword are intelligent and possess possibly even a hive mind type of consciousness.

MAJORA’S MASK

Majora’s Mask much like Ocarina of Time has the Lens of Truth and the Gossip Stones, and another curious place, an eye symbol on Captain Keeta’s grave.

The Lens of Truth and Gossip Stones work very much the same as they do in Ocarina of Time, with the Gossip Stones now telling you how many hours remain in the three-day cycle as opposed to the time itself.

In Ikana Graveyard at Captain Keeta’s grave, there is a curious eye symbol without a teardrop or the main three pronged eyelashes. While an eye symbol is present within the N64 version of the game, it’s been stylized more and changed a bit for the 3DS remake, as seen below.

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WIND WAKER

There are five instances of an Eye Symbol within Wind Waker. A shield within the Forsaken Fortress, a tattoo on Baito the Post Office Worker’s back, within Hyrule Castle, on the bottom of the Windfall Teacher’s clothes, and the Hero’s Charm.
Within the Forsaken Fortress right before the massive destroyed ship at the top where Ganondorf dwells, there are two shield decorations on the wall, that both contain an Eye Symbol. While highly reminiscent of the Sheikah Symbol in design, its proportions are distorted a bit. Whether the pirates that once inhabited the Forsaken Fortress were Sheikah or whether they had simple found the shields while scavenging for treasure is a different story entirely.

Baito the Hylian Post Office Work on Dragon Roost has a very stylized ‘eye’ tattoo on his upper shoulder blades, which form a sort of hook like ‘teardrop’ as the bottom. It is pictured below.

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Within Hyrule Castle in the Master Room Chamber are stained glass portraits detailing the events of Ocarina of Time briefly and the Sages. One of which is the Sage of Shadow, Impa. At the top of the stained glass is the Sheikah Symbol; however this one only has one triangular eyelash as opposed to three.

The teacher on Windfall wears a blue jacket with the Sheikah Symbol at the very bottom in yellow. While the blue tones are there, she doesn’t appear to share any similarities with the Sheikah herself. She is also the one that grants you the Hero’s Charm. The Hero’s Charm bears two eyes, both with three triangular eyelashes. It does not however have the teardrop, instead forming to create a smiling mouth. This item shows the lifebars of all enemies and bosses in the game, except Puppet Ganon and Ganondorf, due to game mechanics. Note:  The location of the Hero’s Charm is changed in the HD version of Wind Waker to that of the Savage Labyrinth.

While not an eye symbol, there is an enhanced Gossip Stone in the game, given to you early on by Tetra (who later turns out to be Princess Zelda). It is blue in nature, much like some of the Timeshift Stones, and comes from the very Gossip Stones that used to exist that bore the Sheikah Symbol. Its primary function is to see and hear all that is going on with the opposite holder, and allowing one to even telepathically talk back across a large distance. A rather curious function for an enhanced Gossip Stone, likely detailing their ability to see and hear with each other all across Hyrule, though the blue tone is quite an interesting choice, as it also fits with the Sheikah and the Timeshift Stones as well.

There is a curious eye symbol located on the Boss Door Locks very similar to the sealed door in Faron Woods in Skyward Sword. While there is no real correlation that the Sheikah sealed this door in any way, I felt the need to add it as a last second addition due to the similarities.

PHANTOM HOURGLASS

An ‘eye’ design only appears once within Phantom Hourglass, on the Guard Notebook. While it doesn’t have the traditional pupil design within the center of the eye, it does seem to have the three triangular eyelashes and what appears to be a small ‘teardrop’ coming from the bottom of what would be the eye.

SPIRIT TRACKS

Within Spirit Tracks exists a Sheikah like eye symbol in a few places. They appear on the Sheikah Stones, Boss Door Locks, and the Stamp for the Sand Temple.

Sheikah Stones appear in Spirit Tracks and while these may not be actual Sheikah Stones (as they are used in OoT and MM3D as well as a hint system very similar to their use in ST) they do appear to be related in some way due to the symbols and the name as well, and work similarly to other Gossip Stones or Sheikah Stones, with hints and revealing treasure.

The Boss Door Locks, while again, likely not Sheikah are reminiscent of the ones in Wind Waker, and there may be more of these located throughout the games, but it’s hard to remember.

The Stamp for the Sand Temple has a curious eye above the door. It has three triangular eyelashes, far longer than previously seen and actually connected to the eye, but lacks and sort of teardrop to its design.

Spirit Tracks is an oddity as these show up in an area that is outside of Old Hyrule’s influence, potentially be the mountains of Holodrum or Labrynna instead.

TWILIGHT PRINCESS

Twilight Princess contains a lot of Sheikah and Eye Symbols despite never officially saying the word Sheikah in any context. They appear on Ilia’s Wooden Statue, the back of Zelda’s cloak, the pommel of both of Zant’s swords, the Howling Stones, the back of the Fused Shadow, on Madam Fanadi’s forehead, within Arbiter’s Ground, on the Twilight Throne, throughout the Twilight Palace, and on the back of Luda, Renado’s daughter’s clothes.

Ilia contains a Wooden Statue ultimately used to lead the Messenger of the Heavens on a quest to deal with the Dominion Rod and to seek out Impaz a Sheikah that knows of this legend. On top of the Wooden Statue is the eye with the three triangular eyelashes, but no obvious teardrop, as this stands as the base of the statue.

The back of Zelda’s cloak has the Sheikah Symbol in between the shoulder blades, right below the neck, obviously hinting at the Royal Family connection with the Sheikah.

The Swords Zant uses during his boss fight have a circular pommel with an eye in the center and square pegs branching from there to give the illusion of eyelashes.

The Howling Stones Twilight Princess Link uses to summon forth the Hero’s Shade bear a resemblance to the Gossip and Sheikah Stones. It contains the Sheikah Symbol as well, albeit the pupil is a large hole. These stones are typically associated with Songs from Ocarina of Time or Majora’s Mask.

The Fused Shadow has a curious eye design on the back, also containing three connecting eyelashes above the eye and sideways ‘eyelashes’ that go both upward and downward. It’s a curious placement due to the Fused Shadow’s name and the association that the Sheikah were Shadow Folk. The back of the Fused Shadow and it’s eye can be seen below.

http://zeldawiki.org/images/thumb/0/0e/MidnaHelmEyes.jpg/180px-MidnaHelmEyes.jpg

Madam Fanadi, a fortune teller within Castle Town of Twilight Princess has a gold Sheikah Symbol on her forehead. While her hair color cannot be seen, she too has red eyes and a dark skin tone. Her fortune telling hut/building and even parts of her clothes contain a lot of blues and purples to also fit in with the Sheikah. Though her being a Sheikah is complete speculation.

Within Arbiter’s Ground along the walls of the Stallord Boss Fight is a curious eye design. It contains no eyelashes or teardrop, but does contain odd lines upward and downward from the side, representing the curved eyelashes of the Sheikah Symbol.

The Twilight Throne and the Palace of Twilight have a few eye designs, some more stylized and more ‘technological’ looking like those in Breath of the Wild. On the top of the Twilight Throne, front and back, is an eye design with six eyelashes, three on the top, and three on the bottom. This design lacks the teardrop however. Throughout the Palace and behind the Throne on the wall above is a circular ‘eye’ that contains what one would assume to be a ‘teardrop’ based on this design. A bit above the ‘eye’ are three very close together designs that could be construed as this designs eyelashes, the same exists on the side where the curved upward eyelashes would be, but this contradicts the eye designs seen on the Throne, Fused Shadow, and Zant’s Pommels.

Luda, the daughter of Renado has an eye design on the back of her clothes. This one contains no eyelashes, but does curious contain the teardrop, other theories regarding Renado will be detailed on another section.

A LINK TO THE PAST

An eye design only appears regarding one character within A Link to the Past, Agahnim. On his clothes is an eye design very similar to that of the Sheikah Symbol and more closely related to the eye design on the Twilight Throne in Twilight Princess. It too contains six eyelashes, three on top, and three on bottom. This design appears a number of times throughout Hyrule Castle and Ganon’s Tower where he resides. He also makes heavy use of what appears to be a type of Shadow Magic, among many others, and has blue toned skin, a fact that will come up in later theories.

ORACLE OF AGES

While much of this section will be left to theory, an Eye Symbol does appear a few times within the game, all in connection with Veran, the Sorceress of Shadows. A sideways eye, with the teardrop going upwards appears on her dress, which also conveniently has purple and blue tones to it. It appears during her Boss Fight within the Black Tower of Pillars, which bears a far closer resemblance to the typical Sheikah Symbol. It also appears on the turrets within Black Tower as well. Oddly enough her skin like Agahnim and the Twili is also blue, and she like Midna, a Royal Twili, is seen with orange hair, she too has Shadow Magic like the Sheikah and Twili as well. Most of this as stated will be left to theories though.

TRIFORCE HEROES

An eye symbol appears three times in Triforce Heroes. On the back of the Wallmasters, Totem Armos, and the Triforce Gate.
 The Wallmasters have a blue eye on the back of their hand, with one eyelash on the top and two on the sides, these two unlike previous Sheikah Symbols however curve downward.

Totem Armos, have a half eye design, with three rectangular eyelashes connected to the top of the eye and a ‘teardrop’ that connects with the teeth of the Totem Armos.

A similar eye symbol to the Totem Armos appears on the Triforce Gate in the Den of Trials as well. A curious thing considering the Sheikah connection to the Royal Family and the Triforce itself.