- "The prophecy says, "The Hero will stand in the desert holding the Book Of Mudora." If you have the Book Of Mudora you can read the language of the Hylia People."
- — Aginah
The Book of Mudora is an item from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. This green book is a chronological bibliography of the creation, history and legends of Hyrule. The book also contains prophecies and laws of Hyrule, along with translations for the ancient Hylian Language.
Story[]
Spoiler warning: Plot or ending details follow.
After Link has completed the first dungeon, the Eastern Palace, and retrieved the first Pendant of Courage, Sahasrahla gives Link the Pegasus Boots, legendary footwear that allows him to dash. Upon speaking with the hermit Aginah, Link learns of the book's whereabouts and travels to the House of Books. Upon his arrival, however, he finds that it is stuck on a high shelf. Link dashes into the bookshelf with the use of the Pegasus Boots, causing the book to fall down. With the Book of Mudora in his possession, he travels south to the Desert of Mystery and finds an ancient stone tablet inscribed with the old Hylian language. He uses the book to translate, and makes a wish. The stone head that blocks the entrance to the temple moves, allowing Link to enter it and retrieve the Pendant of Wisdom.
The Book can be used a multitude of times afterwards, some of which are optional. Inscribed on the Pedestal of Time is the prophecy of a legendary hero. In order to obtain the magical medallions Ether and Bombos, Link must use the Book of Mudora to translate the writing on old, decorative stone tablets found on Death Mountain and the Desert of Mystery, respectively.
Spoiler warning: Spoilers end here.
Non-canonical appearances[]
Non-canon warning: This article or section contains non-canonical information that is not considered to be an official part of the Legend of Zelda series and should not be considered part of the overall storyline.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past manga[]
Sasharahla gives Link the book instead of telling him where to find it. After obtaining the second Pendant of Virtue in the Desert Palace, Link is stung by a scorpion, and succumbs to its venom. Agahnim approaches the unconscious Link and takes the Book of Mudora from him in order to find an incantation within which he can complete the ritual to resurrect Ganon.
Non-canon warning: Non-canonical information ends here.
Translation from Japanese[]
The Book of Mudora in the original Japanese was not a history book at all; it only dealt with the Hylian language. The myths and stories accredited to it in the translation of A Link to the Past were either hearsay or unnamed scrolls in the original. The prophecy from the manual accredited to it was simply an instruction page with no reference to the Book of Mudora.