#link obtains the eight pieces of courage

[yashahimewasamistake]

Totk should have had eight temples where Link finds eight mysterious triangles, and only if Link collects those eight mysterious triangles, he gets the secret ending of returning Zelda to normal.

[aftaabmagazine]

The Lost Treasures

By Mir Hekmatullah Sadat From the October - December 1997 issue of Afghan Magazine | Lemar - Aftaab

[caption: Kabul Museum with no roof.  Photo September 2002, photo by Farhad Azad]

At the climax of the Afghan civil war of the 1990s, it was unknown what had happened to the Kabul Museum. Mir Hekmatullah Sadat wrote about the topic.

It was the chivalry of courageous Afghans led by Shah Amanullah Ghazi (r. 1919-1929) that made Afghanistan the first Muslim nation to be liberated from the tentacles of colonialism. It was this great individual who built the foundations of the Afghan National Museum at Dar-Al-Aman (Rowland, 1976). The National Museum once covered 50,000 years of history and holds one of the worlds most significant multicultural antique collections: Persian, Indian, Chinese, Central Asian, Greco-Roman, Arab and more.

The book Ancient Art from Afghanistan makes this remark about the museum: "An institution unique in the world in being composed entirely of objects acquired, not by purchase, but by excavations in the native soil" (Rowland, 1976, p.15).

[caption: The Bost Room, Kabul Museum. This was from the Ghaznavids era, 10th Century, Helmand, looted and burned during the 1990s civil war. Photo September 2002, photo by Farhad Azad]

Rowland (1971) explains, "the Kabul collections begin with the work of the French archaeological mission in 1922...The Italian mission at Ghazni continuing the work begun by the French in 1948, has added a precious collection of objects reflecting the splendors of the great Islamic civilization of the Ghaznavids" (x-xi).

German and Russian expeditions also took part in the excavation of priceless artifacts for the Kabul Museum. The Begram collection discovered in 1939, dating from the 1st century, comprised of 1,800 lacquers, bronzes, ivories, statutes and glassware items from Ancient Rome, Greece, India, China, Egypt, and Central Asia. Begram was the site of Kapisa, the summer capital of Kanisha, King of the Kushans. Rashid (1995b) cites Nancy Dupree (Vice-Chairperson of the Society for the Preservation of Afghanistan’s Cultural Heritage) referring to the Begram collection as "The most spectacular archaeological find of the 20th century" (p.51).

According to Rashid (1995a), another excavation was the Bactrian gold discovered in 1978. A Russian expedition made the Bactrian discovery. Dupree (1996) suggests that the 21,000 gold objects dating from 100 BC to 100 AD discovered in 1978 at Tilla Teppe, northern Afghanistan were displayed in 1991 to Western Diplomats in Kabul. Rashid (1995a) adds, "The gold was then packed into crates and moved for safety to a vault in the Presidential Palace in central Kabul" (p.61).

However, today the first Afghan National Museum is just crumbled walls and mere rubble. Magnificent palaces and mansions have been destroyed; historical monuments have been shelled. Afghanistan has lost its past to war, and its future is merely ruins and devastation. Every item of state treasure has been smashed, sold, or stolen. Its people and foreign powers have so systematically raped few countries.

The warring parties in Kabul saw those treasures in the museum as ready cash, to be blasted out of their vaults and hauled away to buyers across the world. According to Rashid (1995b), "A trail of looted artifacts stretching from middlemen and antique dealers in Kabul, Peshawar, and Islamabad to provide art collectors in Tokyo, Islamabad, Jidda, Kuwait, London, and Geneva exists" (p.51).

Rashid (1995a) firmly believes that the looters knew precisely what to take, what to break and to find the arts as if they had a sketched map. Each new victor would come to the museum doors to collect their spoils. Dupree (1996) estimates, "about 70% of the museum's collections are now missing"(p.42). It is a saddening occasion for a nation, one that was so victorious against many foreign hands, to fall to the knees of international art dealers. In the process, more unreplaceable and precious antiquities and monuments are lost along the way.

The collection can never be reassembled, or even located. Clara Grissmann (American art historian) suggests: "If new artifacts are dug up, they will be disconnected from the past because the record here has gone" (Rashid, 1995a, p. 62).

This loss destroys significant periods in not only Afghanistan’s cultural heritage but also others it has come in contact with. Pottery from prehistory was bundled into bags like cheap china; ivory statues of Indian courtesans from the 2nd century AD stuffed into the pockets of gunmen and carted off to Pakistan to be sold for a song, eventually turning up on the worlds antique art markets for huge sums.

Global organizations are unsuccessful in trying to recover the looted artifacts, such a piece held by Nasurullah Babur (Pakistani official) who bought an object from the Begram collection for $100,000 (Rashid, 1995a).

In 1995, the historic pistol of Wazir Akbar Khan that was used to kill Gen. McNaughton at Bala-Hissar marking the end of the 1st Anglo-Afghan War was discovered in the hands of another Pakistan official (Arif, 1996). In November of 1996, other artifacts like Babur Shah's (founder of the Mogul dynasty) and Ahmad Shah Baba's (founder of the Afghan Nation) swords were looted and sold to high ranking foreign officials.

During September of 1997, the Pakistani newspaper NNI wrote about former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto being linked to looted art treasures from Afghanistan: Wajid Shamsul Hassan is accused of having given customs clearance to eight crates flown by PIA, without charge from Karachi to London in April last year. The contents are said to have included swords and antique guns.

According to an article in the French paper Le Monde, Benazir said to be a keen collector of antiquities, visited Peshawar last year, accompanied by an academic advisor, to authenticate relics from Afghanistan artifact amassed by Zardari (Bhutto's husband) left the country. According to a journalist who visited a close friend of Zardari found at his house several pieces, including guns and other weapons, that he thought might have come from[Afghanistan].

Not only antiquities, but contemporary arts such as Afghan music, films, photographs, and great Islamic literature were also among the destroyed. Also, ancient graves are being dug up for the jewels they contain. Loyd (1997) points out that the gravediggers go further to even selling the bones of Afghans for money obtained in Pakistan (p.30).

A civilization that once flourished from the land of the Afghans is presently not noticeable, and the future looks even grimmer. We might have won lots of wars, but we are losing the battle to preserve Afghanistan. The country has disintegrated socially, economically, and regionally but arguably as disastrous has been the destruction of its heritage. This unique heritage was due to Afghanistan’s position at the crossroads of commerce and conquest for thousands of years yielding to a culture that has transformed into a legendary myth and fantasy.

When will we speak out and say enough is enough? It is now our time to address our nation and the world. We must reassure our brothers and sisters in Afghanistan, that we will not let them become mere myth or legend. We must struggle to keep Afghanistan alive in every shape and form.

To do that, we need to get rid ourselves of the chips on our shoulder. If we, in the West, away from the bloodshed and misery in Afghanistan cannot come together for our nation; then we should not blame our people back home for perpetually fighting a stalemate war. We must set a model for our people we must unite for our people back home.

Afghan educators, elders, and students from all side of the political and social spectrum must get active in efforts to bring together the largest immigrant population of the world. Otherwise, we will succumb the same fate as the people and treasure back home.

References

Arif, G. (1996, November).  "Endless Tragedy."  TASSWIR(dari text), p. 13.

Dupree, N. (1996, March/April).  "Museum under Siege." ARCHAEOLOGY, p.42-51.

Loyd, A. (1997, January 12).  "A Market in Human Remains." THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE, p.30.

Rashid, A. (1995a, September 21).  "Crime of the Century." FAR EASTERN ECONOMIC REVIEW, p. 60-62.

Rashid, A. (1995b, December).  "Plundered Afghan Treasures."  WORLD PRESS REVIEW, p. 51.

Rowland, B. (1971).  "Art in Afghanistan."  London: Penguin Press.

Rowland, B. (1976). "Ancient Art from Afghanistan."  New York: Amo Press.

Staff Writer.  (1996, November 11).  "Afghanistan: Artifacts Plundered." LOS ANGELES TIMES, A6.

Staff Writer. (1997, September).  "Trial may link Bhutto to stolen Afghan treasure."  NNI (Pakistan).

About Mir Hekmatullah Sadat

Mir Hekmatullah Sadat has a BA from the University of California, Irvine and an MA the California State University, Fullerton, and a Ph.D. at Claremont Graduate University.

[breeeliss]

[Chlonette Week]: If I Could Tell Her

yo if you’ve ever successfully completed all days of a fandom week on time, hit me up i need to pick your brain 

(for @chlonetteweek​ )

[Prev: What Is This Feeling?]

Link to Archive Of Our Own: [AO3]

Title: If I Could Tell Her Prompt: a day dedicated to some pining! What are some things they wish they could say to each other but don’t have the courage to? Summary: A day in the life of a lovesick Chloé Bourgeois

Day 3: If I Could Tell Her 

Chloé was sitting in the living room waiting for her driver to bring the car around when she finally checked all of Marinette’s 4am snapchats.

At a certain point, she had to appreciate the artistic appeal of watching Marinette’s sanity slowly slip away the further Chloé tapped through her story. By three in the morning, Marinette had her history textbook draped over her face while she blasted a Stromae album, rapped along horribly to the lyrics, and added the caption ‘ I’m dropping out of school and becoming an overnight musical sensation.’ It was amazing how something could be tragic, beautiful, and hilarious all at the same time but she supposed if anyone was capable of pulling it off, it was a sleep deprived Marinette Dupain-Cheng.

Honestly, Chloé still hadn’t figured out what on Earth kept Marinette so busy that she was consistently staying up until sunrise to finish her assignments. Procrastination and Marinette didn’t go well together which meant she had to have been living some kind of double life as a model. Or an actress. Or something. Whatever. Chloé would look into it. Must be pretty important to be worth showing up to school late so many days in a row.

Speaking of which…

Chloé made a quick phone call while she waved her butler over and quietly asked, “Could you put some coffee in a thermos for me? I don’t want to feel sluggish during class.”

She was sent to voicemail three times before a confused, groggy voice finally answered the phone. “ I didn’t fall asleep! I was just resting…”

Chloé let herself smile now that no one was looking. “You do realize it’s eight o’clock, right?”

“ Chloé?” Marinette mumbled. “ What the fu — how did you get my number…wait, what time is it?”

“Yes it’s me, watch your language, snooped through Adrien’s phone, and it’s half an hour before school starts.”

Chloé heard a scream, a thud, and a burst of running water. “SHIT! How did I sleep through my alarms, I set like seven of them!?”

“Listen, if you’re late to class one more time, you’re going to get sent to the principal’s office. Which means you’re going to miss first period. Which means that I can’t copy your notes and do my nails during class. So hurry up.”

“ Stop nagging me so I can get ready. And what do you mean you copy my notes? Are you serious?”

“Chop chop, Marinette! We have maths first. You better be on time.”

Chloé added a splash of milk to her coffee thermos and stole a leftover croissant from breakfast this morning before meeting her driver downstairs. She thought about stopping by the Dupain-Cheng bakery and waiting downstairs with an obnoxious countdown clock on her phone to really rub it in, but Chloé was pushing it with the latenesses herself and she wasn’t sure if offering to drive Marinette to school after that would be a weird thing to offer. Too soon probably. Something to work up to. Good thing that Marinette could bike to school in under ten minutes when she was motivated by the possibility of being late.

After Chloé and Marinette had an extremely lively argument about the answer to a maths equation the class was tasked with solving, their maths teacher thought it best to seat them next to each other for the rest of the year in order to help them get along. The fight really wasn’t that big of a deal. Rivals had to keep up appearances, and sometimes that meant getting a little overdramatic. Although Chloé admittedly did take it too far when she threw that stapler. But then again, Marinette threw a tape dispenser so it was even blame at the end of the day.

Anyway, the point was the seating arrangements were unnecessary because Chloé and Marinette didn’t need to learn how to get along with each other. They got along pretty okay now that they were older and Adrien no longer needed to blackmail Chloé into being passably courteous to her classmates. However, getting to sit next to Marinette in class now gave her a subtle yet foolproof excuse to talk to her at least once a day which was always a win in Chloé’s book.

She was fixing up her makeup by the time Marinette dove into her seat three minutes before the period bell rang.

“You’re a walking disaster,” Chloé commented, squinting into her mirror as she touched up her brows. “How much sleep did you get?”

Marinette winced. “Uh, three…no two…wait, no. I think I just power napped. And maybe had a lucid dream in between homework assignments at some point. I don’t remember. Wait today’s Thursday, right?”

Chloé leaned away from her. “Good lord…” She pushed the coffee and croissant across the table. “Eat. Caffeinate. Seriously. You’re creeping me out.”

Marinette slowly opened the thermos and sniffed the contents as if she were afraid they were poisoned. “You got me coffee? That’s something you know how to do?”

“It’s fairly easy to obtain coffee, Marinette.”

“Wait, I can just have this? And the croissant?”

Chloé winced. “ Weeeeelllll …”

Marinette’s face fell. “Oh come on, what is it?”

“Let me copy your test corrections. I forgot to do them.”

“No way! Do you know how long I spent on those? I’m not going to let you just copy them.”

“I’m getting marked down in this class enough as it is. Just let me sneak a peek for two minutes. I’m a quick copier.”

Marinette pulled her books away from Chloé. “Coffee and one croissant is not enough for test corrections.”

“Ugh, fine. I’ll buy you two croissants.”

“Nope. Still not good enough.”

“Well damn, woman, what do you want?”

Marinette tapped her chin and let her eyes fall on the tube of lipstick that Chloé had lying next to the brow palette she was using. “Is that Lancôme?”

Chloé’s eyes flew open. “Stop it! It’s new! I haven’t even used it yet.”

“I really love that color.”

“Marinette come on! ”

“Class starts in less than a minute. Better do this before the teacher comes in.”

“Agh, fine!” Chloé slapped the tube of lipstick in Marinette’s hands and quickly took her test corrections before she changed her mind. “You better take care of that! It’s matte. And very expensive.”

“I’m gonna dump it in the sink after class.”

“Marinette please .”

She laughed as she blew over the rim of the thermos and took a deep sip of her coffee. She furrowed her brows and looked at Chloé. “You put milk in this.”

Chloé nodded and straightened the notebooks on her desk so that Marinette wouldn’t catch her smiling. “Yeah, that okay? That’s how I take my coffee,” she lied.

“No it’s perfect. I love when it’s got milk in it. Good guess!”

Chloé winked at her. “What can I say? Good instincts.”

In actual fact, Chloé had bullied Marinette’s favorite coffee order out of Alya a couple of days ago, but Marinette didn’t need to know that. Chloé had also done her test corrections last night while she was FaceTiming with Sabrina and didn’t really need to copy anyone’s answers after all, but Marinette also didn’t need to know that. Instead, Chloé pretended to copy over Marinette’s answers while she subtly glanced at Marinette happily enjoying her breakfast.

She wasn’t aware of how long she was staring until she felt someone kick her chair from behind and shock her back into focus. Chloé looked over her shoulder and glared when she saw Adrien fluttering his eyelashes and making obnoxious kissing faces at her while Alya cackled under her desk next to him. She waited until the teacher was turned to the board before she crumpled up a piece of notebook paper and threw it right in Adrien’s face so that he’d shut up and leave her alone.

Oh. Yeah. She forgot to mention that part. Sitting next to Marinette was great, but sitting behind the Smug Duo over here was a nightmare.

“You know instead of pretending to bring her coffee for the sake of a bribe, you can just invite her out to coffee instead,” Adrien told her after class. “It would definitely be a more straightforward option.”

Chloé started scanning the tags on the lockers and trying to find which one was Marinette’s. “That would involve telling Marinette how I feel and I’d rather shave myself bald.”

Alya rolled her eyes. “God, you’re so overdramatic.”  

“Do you understand that the likelihood of Marinette liking me back is like less than one percent?” Chloé explained. “You don’t date someone you have history with, it just doesn’t work that way.”

“Says who?” Adrien asked.

“Says me.” Chloé found Marinette’s locker and carefully slipped in the textbook that she had accidentally left on her desk before she raced out the classroom to head for her studio arts class. “If I tell her that I like her and she says no, it’s just gonna make things awkward between us. We’re finally getting along after like five years of knowing each other and I’m not messing that up by telling her anything.”

“Why are you so sure confessing is going to mess things up between you two?” Alya asked. “Trust me, I know that girl inside out. She’ll be more likely to feel awful that she can’t return your feelings then try to make you feel bad for having them.”

Chloé let out a fake sob. “Ugh, that’s almost worse…”

“You’re functioning under the assumption that it’s impossible for her to like you back,” Adrien said. “Is it so hard to believe that she could possibly have a crush on you too?”

“Oh, please.”

“I’m serious. That girl wears her heart on her sleeve. It’s hard for her to hide her feelings.”

“That doesn’t mean she likes me. I’m not getting crush vibes from her.”

Alya shrugged. “I mean, they may not be full on crush vibes. But I feel like the old Marinette would’ve been weirded out by you bringing her coffee and being her wake up call in the mornings. She seems to roll with it just fine and actually enjoys it. If she isn’t crushing on you yet, she might be getting there.”

“Which is why this is the perfect time for you to confess!” Adrien grinned. “Let her warm up to the idea.”

Chloé pushed passed them and started to walk to her next class. “I get that you two are bored or romantically unfulfilled or whatever it is that makes people meddle in other people’s love lives, but I’m seriously good on the romantic advice front. I know what I’m doing.”

Alya frowned. “So you’re fine just…being nice to her and not letting things push past that point.”

Chloé groaned as she paused in the doorway. “You guys make it sound like I’m miserable trying to keep this a secret. I’m fine, okay? Totally, one hundred percent fine with how things are.”

Adrien worried his lip. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, I’m sure. Look I’ve gotta go to class, so can we do this later? And if either of you dare tell Marinette that I was the one who returned her book, I’ll start a smear campaign on both of you!”

“Isn’t that a little extreme?”

“No. In fact it isn’t extreme enough. So be grateful for my mercy.”

For once, Chloé wasn’t lying. She truly didn’t mind not telling Marinette anything. She was big enough to admit that Marinette was so beautiful, kind, and popular that it was hard to not let that jealousy manifest into outright hatred. But hating her wasn’t nearly as satisfying as becoming friends with her. Just in the past couple of months, Chloé had been able to tease out charming little bits of her personality that she hadn’t known about before. Like the fact that she was wickedly sarcastic, quick to anger, and loved arguing with people just because it got her blood pumping and she found it fun.

She could no longer resent Marinette’s ability to make everyone fall in love with her because Chloé had fallen into the same trap in almost no time at all. It hurt to know that she’d wasted so many years being cruel to her, and all she really wanted to do was act like a friend to her. Chloé often didn’t think about dating and kissing when she thought about Marinette. Not that she would ever be opposed to that happening, but it wasn’t the reason she liked being around Marinette. She liked making her smile. She liked being the reason Marinette could be happy for just a few minutes out of the day. Undoing all of the damage she’d caused this wonderful girl was all Chloé really wanted, and she didn’t need anything in return for it.

Chloé didn’t see Marinette again until the lunch pause. Her study block was over, and she was about to leave the library before she saw Marinette passed out on one of the study tables. Chloé leaned down and jostled her shoulder until Marinette slowly blinked her eyes open and yawned. “Hey Chloé.”

“Coffee wear off?”

She nodded sluggishly and started to fall back asleep. “Yeah I think so.”

“You need to eat something,” Chloé said. “I get you’re tired, but you can’t skip meals.”

“I forgot to grab lunch this morning,” Marinette said. “And I don’t have time to go out and get something. I’d rather sleep.”

Chloé started to collect all of the homework that Marinette didn’t get a chance to complete last period. “How about this? I just ordered some sushi. Delivery guy should be here any minute. I’ll split my lunch with you and then we can go nap in the park or something.”

Marinette rubbed her eyes and gestured for her bag so that she could zip it up herself. “Why the park?”

“Figured it’s more comfortable than crouching over your desk like this. Seriously, you’re too pretty to grow up with horrible posture. How are you going to look as amazing as I do in strapless stuff?”

Marinette snorted and started to roll back her stiff shoulders. “Compelling argument.”

“Come on,” Chloé said. “I was gonna do some online shopping done in the park anyway. Plus, I think I ordered two lunch boxes by accident and I can’t eat it all by myself. So I hope you like chicken.”

“Isn’t ordering takeout to the school against the rules?” Marinette teased.

Chloé flicked her forehead. “Don’t nag me, Class Rep. Be happy I’m sharing my food with you.”

“No, no, I am happy! That’s…really nice of you Chloé. Thank you.”

“You were drooling on your desk. That’s embarrassing. I can’t be seen with people who drool on their desks, so I figured I’d come rescue you from making a fool out of yourself.”

“Oh shut up. I’m up late a lot, I can’t help it.”

“Yeah, about that. What is it with you and staying up so late all the time? What do you do all day?”

“At night, I become a masked superhero who fights evil and runs around in spandex.”

“Hilarious. And unoriginal.”

“Hey, what happened to being nice to me? I liked that earlier.”

“I’m physiologically incapable of being nice for longer than sixty seconds. I’m seeing a doctor about it.”

“Oh, how absolutely awful.”

“It really is. I’m trying to raise awareness about the disease.”

Chloé pulled a blanket from her locker and walked them to the park a couple of blocks away from the school where other students were lounging in the sun, playing games, and catching up on homework. Marinette practically attacked the carton of food the minute Chloé handed it to her and started muttering something about definitely paying Chloé back because she simply couldn’t accept this without making up for it somehow. Chloé gracefully ignored the offer and made it a point to keep an eye for any money she may soon find in her locker of her notebooks so that she could return it to Marinette later on.

They weren’t at that point where they were particularly chatty with one another. Marinette asked Chloé about how studying for exams was going and Chloé remembered to ask whether Marinette was having any luck figuring out what fashion school she might want to start applying to next year. The conversation pretty much fizzled out after that, but Chloé didn’t mind. Chloé was fine turning on some music and catching up on her literature homework while Marinette ate next to her and laughed at the two three year olds playing tag only a few feet in front of them.

Marinette finished eating long before Chloé did, so Chloé grabbed her bag and shoved it underneath Marinette’s head so that she could have a pillow to lean on while she slept. She told Chloé to wake her up in ten minutes because she needed to start her homework early, but Chloé merely pretended to set the alarm and decided to let her sleep for the full two hours. She needed to remember to find a concealer in Marinette’s skin tone and figure out a subtle way of giving that to her. Poor thing was going to need it if she kept showing up to school running on fumes.

Chloé kept doing homework until she got bored and pulled out her tablet to get some shopping done. It didn’t take long for Marinette to knock out and start lightly snoring next to her. Chloé laughed through the short video she took of the sight and texted it to Marinette before indulgently smoothing the hair away from her sleeping face.

“Yup. Definitely a walking disaster,” she whispered as she played with Marinette’s bangs. “You need to sleep more, you idiot.” Marinette shifted in her sleep and hugged Chloé’s bag closer, still trapped in a deep sleep that Chloé felt guilty breaking her out of.

Chloé really wasn’t sure how crushes worked. Or rather, she didn’t know where friendships ended and crushes started, or whether they were really just one and the same thing with only subtle shades of difference separating them. Marinette coming to have lunch and nap in the park with her seemed like a huge step for them. They weren’t close yet, and Chloé wouldn’t have been offended if Marinette had said no to her invitation. But Marinette did say yes, and it was hard to figure out whether the excitement Chloé felt was because of a progressing friendship or because of the lingering shreds of a stupid hope that Marinette secretly felt the same about her.

She hated entertaining that hope because it wasn’t important to her. It really wasn’t. Chloé could die happy just being Marinette’s friend because that all by itself was a beautiful thing. But god, how perfect would it be to have Marinette look her in the eye and tell her that she liked her back? To call things like these dates? To not have to pretend that her gestures had ulterior motives?

Chloé sighed and let her thumb brush over Marinette’s cheek before she turned back to her tablet and tried to let Marinette sleep. It was probably just her touch starved brain talking. Maybe if she went to Adrien’s house after school to study and watch movies, it would help stop her brain from lingering on silly thoughts. Marinette was probably having a hard enough time learning how to be friends with Chloé after everything they’d gone through.

It would be selfish to demand anything more than that, and Adrien had been telling her for a long time that Chloé needed to stop being so darn selfish.

[wazafam]

In the Legend of Zelda series from Nintendo, Ganon is often depicted as the final “big bad,” desperately trying to take over the Kingdom of Hyrule. From 1986’s The Legend of Zelda to 2020’s Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, Ganon is continuingly trying to spread his corruption across the peaceful lands of Hyrule.

While others have also attempted to take over Hyrule, such as Chancellor Cole in Sprit Tracks and Ghirahim from Skyward Sword, none have made such an impression as that of the flame-haired Gerudo King. Thankfully for the many races that inhabit this vast fantasy world, Link is always there to ready his weapons and put Ganon back in his box time and time again.

Related: Zelda: How Old Link Is In Breath of the Wild

As the Legend of Zelda series has developed over the 35 years since its debut on the NES, so has the character of Ganon. His plots, and incarnations, have become more convoluted, extravagant, and cinematic. Here is every time Ganon has attempted to take over Hyrule (and every time Link has prevented him from doing so).

The game that started it all. 35 years ago, gamers were first introduced to the Kingdom of Hyrule, its plucky hero Link, and the porcine Ganon in The Legend of Zelda. During the game’s introduction, players learn how "Prince of Darkness" Ganon stole the Triforce of Power. To prevent Ganon from finding the piece of Triforce in her procession, Princess Zelda broke the Triforce of Wisdom into eight pieces. Before she is captured by Ganon, Zelda sends her nursemaid, Impa, to find a hero (enter Link) to collect the eight fragments before embarking on defeating Ganon. Link will only come face to face with Ganon in the game’s climatic final battle in Death Mountain. On defeating Ganon, who ends up being an especially difficult foe given his penchant for turning invisible for most of the battle, Link will collect the Triforce of Power from his remains, thus saving the Princess, the Kingdom, and the day.

While Ganon does not feature per se in this installment of the Legend of Zelda series, his minions are still alive and well, and doing his bidding from beyond the grave following on from his demise in The Legend of Zelda. Should the player receive a Game Over while playing The Adventure of Link, however, Ganon’s henchmen will take the blood of the now fallen Link and sprinkle it over their Master’s corpse to revive him. On doing this, players will receive the sinister message “Game Over. Return of Ganon.”

Despite being the third time that players will have to save Hyrule from Ganon, chronologically A Link to the Past serves as a prequel to The Legend of Zelda. In this game, Ganon is already sealed away in the Dark World (formerly The Legend of Zelda's Sacred Realm that has now become corrupted with Ganon’s dark influence) after he invaded it and obtained the Triforce. While Ganon is stuck in the Dark World, a wizard called Agahnim captures Princess Zelda in the Light World (Hyrule) and uses his power to send Zelda and Link to the Dark World with Ganon. This all part of an elaborate plan to break the seal that confines Ganon to this realm.

Related: Zelda Breath of the Wild 2 Leaked Names: Every Fake One So Far

Meanwhile, in the Dark World, Ganon controls an avatar of Agahnim within Ganon’s Tower, using this influence to build up his strength before he can proceed to overcome the Light World of Hyrule. When Link finally defeats this avatar of Agahnim in the Dark World, Ganon will rise from the wizard’s now useless body, turn into a bat, and fly to the Pyramid of Power. Here, Link will fight Ganon in his typical hog-esque appearance. When Ganon is finally defeated, Link will be able to touch the Triforce and use his essence of good to return Hyrule and the Sacred Realm to its former splendor. A Link to the Past is also notable for being the first time that the famous Master Sword appears within the Zelda series.

Perhaps one of the most famous incarnations of Ganon, in Ocarina of Time players learn more about the King of Evil’s history and finally see him in both his human (Ganondorf) and eventual porcine form. This time, Ganon uses Link and Princess Zelda to uncover the three Spiritual Stones within Hyrule to unlock the Door of Time by cursing, releasing monsters into, and infecting the Great Deku Tree, Dodongo’s Cavern, and Lord Jabu-Jabu’s belly. These stones act as a key to the Sacred Realm, where the Triforce is kept.

Not realizing Ganon’s plan, Link uses the stones to unlock the door while Ganon lays siege on Castle Town. As soon as Link pulls the Master Sword from its pedestal, which is hidden behind the Door of Time within the Temple of Time, he is plunged into a seven-year slumber. Ganon takes this opportunity to enter the now open Sacred Realm and steals the Triforce. What Ganon did not count on, however, was the Triforce breaking up into three pieces due to the unbalanced nature of his desires. While Ganon maintains the Triforce of Power, the pieces of Wisdom and Courage go to Princess Zelda and Link, respectively.

In the seven years that Link is in his magical slumber and Princess Zelda is in hiding, Ganon rules over Hyrule while searching for the final two pieces of the Triforce. Once Link awakens as an adult with the power to wield the Master Sword, he sets off to undo the evil that Ganon has allowed to take over Hyrule during his rule. Eventually, Link is able to obtain enough power with the help of Princess Zelda (who has been hiding behind the pretense of being an enigmatic ninja named Sheik) and the newly awoken Sages (who are revealed as Link cleanses certain areas of Hyrule) and can head to Ganon’s Castle to do battle for Hyrule.

Related: Ocarina of Time Beta Leak Explained: What Zelda Fans Know Now

After defeating the human form of Ganondorf, and destroying Ganon’s Castle, however, a beast rises from the ruins; Ganon, his dark and powerful final form. Even though Link wins this battle, Ganon still possesses the Triforce of Power and ultimately cannot be killed. Instead, the Sages use their powers to seal Ganon away in the Dark Realm. Before he is fully sealed away though, Ganon vows to “exterminate (the) descendants” of Zelda and Link.

While this game initially starts on the islands that are scattered across the Great Sea, eventually The Legend of Zelda players will be taken under the waters to the submerged Kingdom of Hyrule. In The Wind Waker’s history, Hyrule was flooded by the goddesses to contain Ganon, and its people fled to higher ground. But a little bit of water will not stop the mighty Ganon from trying with all his might to claim the power that he believes should to be his.

In this game, Ganon is shown several times on the islands above Hyrule, although it is not revealed to be him at first. Instead, he is shown to be the master of the Helmaroc King, who is kidnapping “girls with long ears” for a mysterious reason (which ends up being a bid for Ganon to find the descendant of Princess Zelda). Eventually it transpires that this incarnation of Ganon is a “returned Ganon.” Soon, Ganon recognizes Tetra, the feisty pirate comrade of Link’s in The Wind Waker, as the descendant of Ocarina of Time’s Princess Zelda.

He kidnaps Tetra / Zelda in the hope of uniting the pieces of the Triforce and finally securing his rule over Hyrule. After battling Link and revealing him to be the ancestor of the Hero of Time, Ganon manages to claim the three Triforce pieces and asks the Gods to “expose (Hyrule) to the rays of the sun once more” and to “give Hyrule to (him).” Obviously, he is ultimately unsuccessful. With the help of the King of Hyrule and Princess Zelda, Link once more takes the Master Sword and, after an intense subsea duel, plunges it into Ganon’s face. This results in Ganon being turned into a rocky edifice.

In the GameCube offering of Hyrule, Ganon once more uses others to do his bidding before his true intentions are exposed. In the case of Four Swords Adventures, it is Shadow Link and Vaati who initially pose a threat to the Kingdom of Hyrule. As the game unfolds, Ganon is revealed to be the brains behind the nightmares that have gripped Hyrule, having stolen both a trident that was full of a powerful magic as well as a Dark Mirror, which he used to create the evil counterpart of Link.

Related: Complete Legend of Zelda Franchise Timeline Explained

Using Shadow Link to kidnap the powerful shrine maidens within Hyrule with the hope that he could add their power to his, Ganon proceeds to murder the Knights of Hyrule and trap their souls in the World of Darkness. Thankfully, Link possesses the Four Sword, and creates three additional clones of himself to battle the forces of evil. Once the Link quartet free the shrine maidens, Link uses their power and the help of Princess Zelda to overcome Ganon and seal him inside the Four Sword. Once more, peace and prosperity are brought back to the Kingdom of Hyrule.

Again, Ganon uses others to do his bidding in Twilight Princess, this time using Zant, King of the Twili, to reign darkness over Hyrule. Zant and Ganondorf made a pact to grant each other the power they desire by overthrowing Hyrule and the Twilight Realm of the Twili. As the story progresses, it is revealed that the Sages of Hyrule once banished Ganon with the Mirror of Twilight after he tried to steal the Triforce. Zant tried to break the Mirror of Twilight, but instead just scattered the pieces across Hyrule as he is not the true ruler of the Twili (it is actually Midna, who is Link’s companion throughout Twilight Princess).

After a lengthy series of quests and temples, Link and Midna defeat Zant before heading to Hyrule Castle to take on Ganondorf. When they find him, Ganondorf possesses Princess Zelda to act as his puppet, before finally turning into a gigantic boar-like beast. Once Link slays this beast, Hyrule Castle begins to collapse. Midna uses her powers to transport Link and Zelda to Hyrule Field, and to safety. This safety does not last long for the heroes, though, as Ganon once more rises up in his human form to do battle with Link. On horseback, and with the help of Princess Zelda and some well-placed Light Arrows, Link knocks Ganon to the ground. Using the always-faithful Master Sword, Link finally plunges it into Ganon’s chest, once more releasing Hyrule from his evil grasp.

In the most recent games in the Legend of Zelda franchise, Ganon is depicted as a beast of malice and machine. For the Switch era, Nintendo switched it up and created a Hyrule that was already under a significant threat from Ganon and his cronies. In Breath of the Wild, Ganon has already taken Hyrule under his control with the help of the Blight Ganons and hordes of bokoblins and lizalfos when the player's adventure begins. As the story is revealed through unlocked memories, it is shown that Ganon initially tried to conquer Hyrule 10,000 years before the game’s narrative.

Related: Zelda's 35 Anniversary: What Nintendo SHOULDN'T Do

At that time, he was locked away by four Champions of Hyrule in their Divine Beasts, a Princess with the blood of the goddesses, and her appointed knight. 9,900 years later however, Hyrule has unevolved and no longer commands the ancient tech of its predecessors. Princess Zelda, along with Link, Impa, Purah, Robi and the other races within Hyrule, have recognized signs that Ganon is once more going to attempt to break free of his seal and reign supreme over their Kingdom. In effort to stop this from happening, the heroes endeavor to learn the ways of their ancestors and control the mechanical beings that won the battle against Ganon 9,900 year prior.

Sadly, Ganon is wily, and manages to possess the Divine Beasts and the Guardians, and Hyrule falls to his malice. During the battle that eventually becomes known as the Great Calamity, Princess Zelda manages to seal Ganon in Hyrule Castle with her newly revealed magic, and a wounded Link is sent to the Chamber of Resurrection. After sleeping for 100 years, Link awakens to a derelict and fearful Hyrule that lives in the shadow of Calamity Ganon, who is trapped within Hyrule Castle and only being kept at bay by Princess Zelda, who is trapped there with him. As Link gets stronger and learns more about the world that he now inhabits, he is able to free the Divine Beasts from Ganon’s power and uses them to fight the malicious beast once more. Soon, Calamity Ganon transforms into his final form of malice and hatred; Dark Beast Ganon. With the added help of Zelda’s Bow of Light, Link defeats Dark Beast Ganon on Hyrule Field, and Zelda is once more free from her entombment within him. Using her magic, Zelda seals Ganon away, and peace is restored to Hyrule.

Age of Calamity, meanwhile takes place before and during the Great Calamity itself. Here, players meet Astor, a Prophet of Doom and follower of Calamity Ganon. Astor uses a Diminutive Guardian that is infected with Ganon’s malice to create Harbinger Ganon. Throughout Age of Calamity, Astor uses Harbinger Ganon to see the future, witnessing the devastation that Calamity Ganon is destined to bring to Hyrule. However, in his final moments Astor is consumed by malice and absorbed into Harbinger Ganon. This combination of powers results in Astor and Harbinger Ganon becoming the game’s ultimate boss; Calamity Ganon. While the end results of this rendition of the Great Calamity differ from how they play out in Breath of the Wild, this final incarnation of Ganon that players face during the games' finales is the same for both Legend of Zelda games available on the Nintendo Switch (so far…).

While Ganon has appeared or been mentioned in other The Legend of Zelda games, he is often being used as part of a greater plan by other antagonists, such as within Oracle of Ages and Seasons. Needless to say, he is certainly one of the most iconic and terrifying baddies in gaming today. Thankfully for the Kingdom of Hyrule, though, Link and Princess Zelda also happen to be two of gaming's most reliable heroes.

Next: Breath of the Wild 2: The One Zelda Character Who NEEDS A Voice Actor

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[leominster1941]

Leominster History – Victorian crime and punishment – public  execution – Hereford Gaol – murdered woman – cider houses

Continued…..

William Hope murderer executed in 1863

A really interesting story written in the Hereford Times about an execution. It is extremely detailed and an excellent piece of social commentary of the time. One assumes it must have been a leading story for the whole of Herefordshire for several months. Hundreds of people attended the Execution from Leominster. Many of them walked to Hereford.

In addition to the constant visits of the chaplain he had been -visited frequently by the Rey. John Von, who continued his kind attendance on Monday and Tuesday. The chaplain was also assisted in his painful and anxious duties on Tuesday evening by the Rev. j. S. Partridge. The attention paid by the convict to their instructions was most satisfactory, and his humble and subdued deportment gave them ground to hope that he was at length truly penitent. He joined heartily and earnestly in the prayers which were continually offered up with him and for him, and confessing himself to be the chief of sinner's, declared his sole trust and confidence to be in Christ Jesus. Early on Wednesday morning he was again visited. by the chaplain, who was joined an hour later by the Rev. J. S. Partridge, who remained with him till half-past seven. From that time he continued reading and praying with the chaplain, till he was summoned by the governor to prepare for the last sad scene.

He submitted with the utmost calmness and composure, and the mournful procession took its way from the hall to the scaffold, the chaplain walking before the prisoner and reading the sentences, " Man that is born of a woman." Arrived at the foot of the drop, on the roof over the gate of the prison, he knelt down and joined in with the chaplain for about two minutes, who then shook hands with him and took his final leave. With a firm step, and unbroken composure, the unhappy man then ascended the few steps leading to the drop praying audibly to the last with great earnestness, " Lord Jesus have pity upon me," " He' died in the full comfort of the  Lord, receive my spirit." many sins were forgiven. Hope  indeed, though at the eleventh hour, a penitent and pardoned sinner. We understand that he has left behind him several letters to his friends and to the clergyman of his parish, strongly expressing his penitence and most earnest warnings against which had led to his own untimely end, particularly the public-house and beer shop.

On Tuesday evening the roadway a spot was visited by a large number of the inhabitants of the town anxious to see the erection of the gallows,  from 9 to 12 o'clock at night some three hundred people remained on the spot, and a row of them even remained there all night in order to get a place from which a good view could be obtained.

Early this (Wednesday) morning large numbers of pedestrians from Leominster, Kington, Bromyard, Ledbury, ., came into town.  About seven o'clock the sun rose forth brightly and by eight o'clock the number of people in front  of the gaol and along the street amounted to 9000. Thy were composed principally of country labourers and mechanics, while we noticed several of the tradesmen of the town. We should think that one-fifth of the crowd were women and girls—from the old woman of threescore years to the child of eleven and twelve—and we noticed females, with children at their breasts, among the most anxious of the crowd.

Some minor amendments to the numbers watching to those given earlier in the report. Note many had walked from Leominster to Hereford to see the hanging. The crowd, on the whole, behaved well, still there were one or two fights, which were quickly stopped by the police ; and at interval the rough portion of the crowd amused themselves with the unfortunate culprit, and heartless . Jokes respecting by groaning and hissing. People were busy among the multitude distributing tracts and papers, and Mr. Chandler, city missionary, and another gentleman, Mr. Kirkman, secretary to the London Mission, held religion services close outside the gaol, and their exhortations were listened to with much interest by large numbers.

Many were drawn to executions other than to witness the event. Some would have produced pamphlets or leaflets describing the William Hope and his evil deed, often with sketches. These were sold to the onlookers. Religious groups in the hope they could gather a few more members from those looking on. Others of course as with football matches simply turn up to cause trouble. The local inhabitants were had the blinds  down of all  the houses opposite and in close proximity to the gaol, and the front gardens of the houses immediately facing the gaol were barred with boards which prevented the mob going into St. Peters burial emend by the presence of members of the city police force, and the grounds in front of the governor's house were protected by the presence of police.

Our mother continued the tradition of closing your curtains when the dead departed their homes to the hearse. It was a sign of respect. While  awaiting the appearance of the unhappy culprit to the drop two or three females fainted and they had to be carried away. Precisely at eight o'clock the tolling of the bell notified  to the crowd the starting of the prisoner from the cell, and its mournful notes fell heavily upon the ear, causing many present to shed tears, whilst a general silence pervaded the thousands congregated together. All eyes were anxiously directed to the scaffold, and  a short time P.C. Mallard and P.C. Price,  with Hope since his  made their appearance and took up their position in front of the gallows. Shortly afterward one of the turnkeys followed on to the scaffold, but in a moment he again descended, for the purpose of assisting the unfortunate man to the drop. He looked sick and wan, and it was apparent. On being placed under the drop he took a look at the crowd beneath him, and then holding up his head he looked for a moment towards the town. The hangman asked him if he ball anything to say to the crowd. He immediately replied ".No, thank you." Smith then put the noose round Hope's neck and firmly fixed the knot beneath the ear. He next put on the white cap and with shaken hands with the prisoner, descended. Hope seemed to say something to one of the turnkeys, and on the second turnkey asking him a question. In a few momenta the bolt was drawn and the soul of Hope wait launched to eternity. The drop was it long one and directly the body fell Smith, the hangman, secured the legs (which were not tied) and held on, soto prevent any struggling on the part of the unfortunate man.

There were  convulsions of the limbs and twitching’s of the hands, which were tightly clasped. In about three minutes Smith let the legs go and the body hung inanimate in the air.

Most a the crowd remained still a few minutes on the spot and then dispersed. The police arrangements were admirable. The city force was under the command of Supt. Davies and Inspector Griffiths, while the county force was under the command of Supt. Wagon and Sergeant Cope. Directly the bolt was drawn a lot of sellers produced from their pockets a profusion of bills containing “the last dying speech and confession of Hope.The unfortunate man, at the 'tensest of his executioner, yielded up his arms to be pinioned, but first of all feelingly shook hands with the chaplain, the governor of the prison, and the officials, who had been in attendance upon him, and thanked them for their ministrations.

It was a painful and touching sight as the culprit cast his last imploring look upon those around him, while Smith, who had produced a sort of cord from his pocket, bound the culprit's arms just as a butcher would hobble a pig. The bell tolled, the chaplain commenced reading the portion of the, burial alluded to below, and the procession, mournful and slow, moved out of the prison into the yard, and thence up the flight of wooden steps towards the first platform, the prisoner walking, with a firm step, but audibly praying. On reaching the first platform the procession halted for a minute, and the chaplain and the prisoner (who knelt) prayed most fervently to God to have mercy upon his soul. Here the chaplain and the Under-Sheriff (who was much affected), linked with the unhappy man, who was then accompanied to the scaffold by the Governor of the prison, the executioner, and two of the turnkeys of the gaol.

For those non English speaking readers the turnkeys were the gaolers, which I am sure was obvious.

The unfortunate man never ceased praying loudly for mercy. Immediately on reaching the drop Smith quickly hurried the maid round the prisoner’s neck, and then proceeding to place the cap over his face, but paused, and said. In a gruff voice, would you like to say anything to this multitude I" he prisoner -answered firmly,” No ' but let them take warning by my case. Oh, God have mercy upon my soul!" His last words were, "Lord Jesus, receive my soul. The executioner motioned the turnkeys from the side of the culprit, and as soon we they had stepped from the platform he suddenly pulled the bolt with a sharp click, and the platform fell with it tremendous crash that shook the nerves of the most courageous, while at the same Moment a deep groan of horror and execration swelled throughout the vast assemblage, like the moan of some distant sea!

Despite everyone knowing what was going to happen we know it would not make the shock of the drop any less. We are told that several women fainted. Thus perished the unfortunate William Hope. The body was allowed to hang for three-quarters of an hour, and was then taken down and brought into one of the offices of the gaol, where a shell awaited it. Here the body was divested of its clothing, and Dr. Bull being in attendance, examined the neck and found the vertebra had not been dislocated. Deathbed resulted from strangulation. The eyes had scarcely become fixed, the body was still warm, and as it was moved; to be placed in the shell a hollow sound came up the throat from the breast, and made us for a moment start at what seemed to us at the moment as the knell of a passing soul.

Dr Bull after hanging summations tells us that William Hope probably took several minutes to die by strangulation and not the instant death resulting from a snapping of the vertebrae. As we came out of the gaol the crowd had nearly cleared off, the gallows had been removed, And the executioner was seated in his gig at the side entrance to the Governor's house, unobserved and unrecognized, except by a few who had scrutinized him closely in the gaol. Smith had driven over from Dudley in his own vehicle.

We omitted to mention in an earlier part of our report that the prisoner told Dr. Bull that his conclusions drawn from an examination of the unfortunate girl all given in evidence, were remarkably correct. We believe also that Baron Channel characterized Dr. Bull's evidence as masterly, and subsequently sent for him and thanked him for his lucid description of the post-mortem examination. The following particulars kindly supplied to us, and may be relied upon as authentic. It is very likely the body had already been sold to those developing medical science. Dissection was a common ending for the body.

Since Sunday last a marked change was observable in the spirit anti demeanour of the convict. The reserve he had hitherto maintained gave way to better feelings: and having made an explicit confession of his guilt to the High Sheriff, Wm. Bridgman, s Esq,, who visited him on Monday, he appeared from that time to be earnestly preparing for his approaching end. THE END.