Stone Cold Secrets: Unearthing the Mysteries of Stone Tablets Across Games and History
Stone tablets. They may not seem like cutting-edge technology. They might remind you of dusty museums or the Flintstones. But wait. Before you dismiss them, think about this: they appear in video games, ancient history, and biblical tales. When you want to record something permanent, stone is a top choice.
Today, we will explore the fascinating world of stone tablets. Forget Indiana Jones. Think of a cooler, calmer explorer with a keyboard. We’ll dive into stone tablets found in popular games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Genshin Impact, and Dredge. Plus, we’ll travel back to the start: the Ten Commandments. Buckle up for a rocky adventure.
I. Deciphering Destiny: Stone Tablets in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (TOTK)
Hyrule, always in danger, has another crisis in Tears of the Kingdom. This time, cryptic stone tablets play a key role. Forget scrolls or ancient writings; we’re talking substantial stone. When you need a lasting message, paper cuts aren’t a concern.
In TOTK, you can find **12** stone tablets. Yes, twelve. They are hidden throughout the Sky Archipelagoes. Finding them is not easy. Think of it as geocaching without the social media triumph at the end.
Location, Location, Location: Sky Archipelago Tablet Hotspots
These tablets are not simply left in labeled chests. You need to explore the Sky Archipelagoes to discover them. For the directionally challenged Hylian, here is a guide:
- West Hebra Sky Archipelago Tablet: Chilly Hebra skies await. Bring a warm tunic or embrace nature’s chill.
- East Hebra Sky Archipelago Tablet: Still Hebra, but on the east side. Might be slightly warmer? Don’t take my word for it.
- North Hyrule Sky Archipelago Tablet: North Hyrule’s skies boast a tablet. Expect a cool breeze.
- Sokkala Sky Archipelago Tablet: Sokkala’s skies are tablet territory. Look out for sky enemies as you explore.
- South Eldin Sky Archipelago Tablet: Fire Mountain’s southern skies hold secrets. Wooden shields might not fare well here.
- Lanayru Sky Archipelago Tablet: Lanayru’s typically wet area extends upward and has stone tablets.
- South Lanayru Sky Archipelago Tablet: More Lanayru sky action in the south. Noticing a pattern?
- Necluda Sky Archipelago Tablet: Necluda’s skies complete our location list. You’re practically a Sky Archipelago expert now.
Lost in Translation? Ancient Hyrulean and Wortsworth to the Rescue
You’ve found a tablet. Great! There’s a catch. These aren’t written in plain Hylian. No way; they use ancient Hyrulean. Unless you took secret ancient language classes, Link is just as lost as you are. Don’t worry, Wortsworth is here! He’s in Kakariko Village.
Go to Kakariko Village and find Wortsworth at coordinates (1835, -0957, 0116). Think of him as Hyrule’s language expert for old languages. To get him to help, you need to do some work yourself.
Your task is simple: play Hyrulean paparazzi for tablets. Snap a picture of each tablet with your in-game camera. Present these photos to Wortsworth. He’ll use his ancient Hyrulean dictionary to translate the stone messages.
Tablet Translation Triumph: The Reward
You might think, “Is all this skydiving and photo-taking worth it?” Glory isn’t the only reward in Hyrule. The stone tablets are part of a bigger quest line. Completing **all 152 shrines** in Tears of the Kingdom really brings the treasure. Doing all those shrines unlocks the Ancient Hero’s Aspect. This isn’t just any armor; it’s a complete set including head, body, and leg gear. It’s the ultimate “I conquered Hyrule” look. The tablets lead to important discoveries for some impressive armor.
II. From Sinai to Ethiopia: The Biblical Saga of the Stone Tablets of the Ten Commandments
Let’s rewind the clock to when tablets were not mere collectibles but symbols of divine law. We’re talking about the big time: the Ten Commandments. Forget pixels; we’re exploring religious history and legendary artifacts.
Mount Sinai: Ground Zero for Divine Decrees
The tale starts on a mountain. Specifically, Mount Sinai. According to biblical stories, here God delivered the Ten Commandments to Moses. Picture it: thunder, lightning, and dramatic clouds. Amid this divine scene, God hands Moses two stone tablets with the foundational rules for civilization.
Ark-itecture: Housing the Holy Hardware
Moses has these vital stone tablets. Where do they go? Not just propped against a rock. Enter the Ark of the Covenant. Picture it as a holy hard drive enclosure. According to Exodus 25:10–22, these tablets were meant for the Ark. This wasn’t just any box; it was sacred, located in the Holy of Holies of Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem. Prime real estate for divine artifacts. The Mercy Seat atop the Ark was said to be God’s throne on Earth.
Shattered Dreams: The Fate of the First Tablets
Even divine plans can falter. Remember the first tablets? They ended in disaster. Moses came down from the mountain and saw the Israelites worshipping a golden calf. In frustration, he smashed the first tablets. Oops.
However, interestingly enough, as discussed in Jewish tradition, those broken pieces weren’t discarded. They were respectfully placed inside the Ark of the Covenant alongside the second set of unbroken tablets.
The Mystery of the Missing Ark: Where Did It Go?
Fast forward centuries later. The Babylonians sack Jerusalem in **586 BCE**. Solomon’s Temple and the Ark of the Covenant are both in danger. After this point, no one knows what happened to the Ark. It’s like a historical mystery. There’s no definitive proof or location since.
A particularly intriguing claim comes from Ethiopia. The Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion in Aksum claims they have the Ark. Whether that claim holds truth or is mere faith is debated and often sparks archaeological interest.
Significance: More Than Just Stone
No matter its current status, the Ark of the Covenant and the Ten Commandments on those tablets represent much more than artifacts. For Judaism, Christianity, and other Abrahamic beliefs, they signify faith, law, and divine connections. They carry deep meaning;
They symbolize a covenant, a sacred agreement, marked in stone for eternity.
III. Genshin Impact’s Geo-graphy: Stone Tablets Across Teyvat
From biblical peaks to Teyvat’s landscapes, stone tablets play a key role in Genshin Impact. They are not commandments but keys. They help unlock secrets, quests, and loot. What’s a game without loot?
Dragonspine’s Dusty Diaries: The Stone Tablets of the Snowy Peaks
Dragonspine is not just snow and boars; it hides Stone Tablets. These are vital for revealing frost secrets. They act like a treasure map of Dragonspine. Do not search for “X marks the spot”; instead, look for “Stone Tablet unlocks loot.”
Here’s where to find these cold chronicles:
- Stone Tablet Location 1: Snow-Covered Path: This tablet connects to the Princess’ Box. Check around the Snow-Covered Path; the tablet isn’t far off the main trail.
- Stone Tablet Location 2: Wyrmrest Valley: Wyrmrest Valley is our next stop. This one’s linked to the Priest’s Box. Search the valley; you will find the tablet waiting.
- Stone Tablet Location 3: Beneath Wyrmrest Valley: This tablet requires a deeper search. If you’ve activated the Domain in Wyrmrest Valley, glide down. Find the giant hole near the Waypoint. Look southwest for a tunnel to access your tablet. Domain not unlocked? Activate the nearby square mechanism to start a challenge. Finish it to gain access.
- Stone Tablet Location 4: Frozen Square: The last Dragonspine tablet is in Frozen Square, linked to the Scribe’s Box. Tucked away in a Luxurious Chest, it requires solving a puzzle. Complete a Time Trial Challenge on an island east of the Frostbearing Tree. Find a sword in the ground under a tree to start the challenge. Beat it to claim your Luxurious Chest and tablet.
Guili Plains’ Geological Gospels: The Treasure Lost, Treasure Found Quest
Leaving Dragonspine, the “Treasure Lost, Treasure Found” quest takes us to Guili Plains. Here, five more stone tablets lie scattered across the ground. It is like a scavenger hunt among ancient ruins for stone tablet prizes.
The Guili Plains tablets are located in cardinal directions:
- West Guili Plains Tablet: Located on the west side of Guili Plains.
- North Guili Plains Tablet: Found up north in the plains.
- Southwest Guili Plains Tablet: You guessed it: southwest Guili Plains.
- South Guili Plains Tablet: A southern Guili Plains tablet awaits.
- East Guili Plains Tablet: Finally, the eastern Guili Plains tablet.
Liyue’s Lithic Lore: The Four Strange Jade Plates
Finally, we arrive at the Four Strange Jade Plates in Liyue. They are similar to stone tablets; however, they are jade-ish. Geographically, these plates are more specific.
- Jade Plate 1: Wangshu Inn Wind Barrier: This plate hides inside a wind barrier. Check below “Wangshu Inn” on your map; the wind barrier and tablet should be there.
- Jade Plate 2: Guili Plains “S”: Back in Guili Plains, this one is marked on your map. Look just beneath the “S” in “Guili Plains.” Jade plate found!
- Jade Plate 3: Luhua Pool Ruins: Go to Luhua Pool. This tablet sits slightly above the ruins that overlook the pool. Seek and enjoy the view.
- Jade Plate 4: Domain Southeast of Luhua Pool: For the fourth Jade Plate, look southeast of the Domain near Luhua Pool. The tablet resides in that area.
IV. Dredge’s Deep Sea Decrees: Stone Tablets of the Devil’s Spine
We shift focus from land adventures to watery depths in Dredge. Here, stone tablets are not found high above but dredged from the sea floor. Truly eerie for a Lovecraftian fishing game.
Devil’s Spine Tablet Trio: Grid-Based Guidance
You seek three stone tablets in the Devil’s Spine area. Dredge provides handy grid coordinates to find them.
- N14: Top Right of Square: For your first tablet, head to grid location N14. Dredge in the top right of the square, just below the island area. Happy dredging!
- P13: Just Left of Dead Center: The second tablet awaits in grid location P13. Dredge just left of dead center within this grid square. Try to catch more than seaweed.
- Q13: South of Center at Island Tip: Your last Devil’s Spine tablet rests at grid location Q13. Dredge south of center, at the tip of the island. Collect all three tablets to uncover Devil’s Spine’s secrets.
V. Beyond the Beaten Path: Other Notable Stone Tablets
The stone tablet story extends beyond Zelda, Genshin, and Dredge. They appear in many unexpected places.
Uchiha Stone Tablet (Naruto): Clan Secrets Etched in Stone
The Uchiha Stone Tablet from Naruto stands as a legendary artifact for anime fans. Passed down through Uchiha clan generations, this tablet holds their deepest secrets. After Konohagakure’s formation, it stayed in Naka Shrine’s bunker before moving to a forest. A family heirloom with significant lore.
All-Maker Stones (Skyrim): Solstheim’s Standing Stones of Power
The Dragonborn DLC of Skyrim presents All-Maker Stones on Solstheim. Named after their creator, these magical standing stones provide unique abilities and blessings to those who use them. Think of them as Skyrim’s ancient power-up stations carved from stone.
Saurok Stone Tablet (World of Warcraft): Cross-Zone Cravings
Eager players find stone tablets even within World of Warcraft. The Saurok Stone Tablet sits at coordinates 75.0, 55.2 in Valley of the Four Winds. Yet, reach it by going through a cave entrance in Krasarang Wilds at coordinates 77.0, 57.3. Located west of Zhu’s Watch along Wind’s Edge line, this tablet requires a trek across zones.
VI. Echoes in Stone: Gilgal and the Circle of Standing Stones
Now let’s return to the biblical context and an important concept: Gilgal. According to Joshua 4:1–11, steles or standing stones formed a circle at Gilgal. It marked the meeting point of Israel’s Twelve Tribes with Joshua after crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land. These stones were significant markers, celebrating a pivotal moment in history and faith. Gilgal was a testament, etched in stone, to a nation’s beginnings.
From ancient commandments to game collectibles, stone tablets maintain significance in human history and imagination. They are not just rocks but vessels of stories, laws, and secrets. Next time you see a stone tablet, whether in gaming or museums, take note of its rich history – both real and virtual – etched in stone.
