When one hears Gerudo Valley, a large desert comes to mind. But Gerudo Valley may not actually be as one may think, nor may it represent what one thinks. The proof of this comes from two huge source in the Gerudo Region:
and
Wisdom
I see the river and Desert Colossus statue to be proof that the Gerudo Valley does not represent power, nor the desert. In West Africa, medicine men would copy the movements of snakes before trying to prophecy, trying to obtain a wisdom beyond their own. The snake represented wisdom and knowledge in many cultures, not just the West African one. For another example, the Biblical story of the Fall of Adam and Eve shows the snake as a cunning, beautiful beast. This beast tricks Eve into eating the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, giving her(and eventually Adam) knowledge to distinguish between Good and Evil. Later in the Bible the apostles John and Paul identify the serpent as Satan in disguise, but nonetheless this snake to did give a knowledge to humanity, even if it was forbidden. What does this have to do with Gerudo Valley? Well, around the Desert Colossus statue is a snake. And on one hand of the Colossus statue, the left, is a Triforce.This could represent the Triforce of Wisdom, and the snake could represent wisdom as well.
Water
Here again I will refer to ancient mythology about snakes. Early Indian myth states the oceans were all made of the large coiled snake Ahi/Vrita. Other cultures talk of huge snake-like monsters residing in the Earth's waters(the Leviathan and Scylla for example). In African and Australian legend, the giant Rainbow Snake, who created rivers and oceans. Snakes also represent fertility in many ancient cultures. This being said, the snake in Desert Colossus could represent water, as there is a huge river in the Valley, a lake next to the Valley, and several fertile oases outside the Spirit Temple.
and
Wisdom
I see the river and Desert Colossus statue to be proof that the Gerudo Valley does not represent power, nor the desert. In West Africa, medicine men would copy the movements of snakes before trying to prophecy, trying to obtain a wisdom beyond their own. The snake represented wisdom and knowledge in many cultures, not just the West African one. For another example, the Biblical story of the Fall of Adam and Eve shows the snake as a cunning, beautiful beast. This beast tricks Eve into eating the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, giving her(and eventually Adam) knowledge to distinguish between Good and Evil. Later in the Bible the apostles John and Paul identify the serpent as Satan in disguise, but nonetheless this snake to did give a knowledge to humanity, even if it was forbidden. What does this have to do with Gerudo Valley? Well, around the Desert Colossus statue is a snake. And on one hand of the Colossus statue, the left, is a Triforce.This could represent the Triforce of Wisdom, and the snake could represent wisdom as well.
Water
Here again I will refer to ancient mythology about snakes. Early Indian myth states the oceans were all made of the large coiled snake Ahi/Vrita. Other cultures talk of huge snake-like monsters residing in the Earth's waters(the Leviathan and Scylla for example). In African and Australian legend, the giant Rainbow Snake, who created rivers and oceans. Snakes also represent fertility in many ancient cultures. This being said, the snake in Desert Colossus could represent water, as there is a huge river in the Valley, a lake next to the Valley, and several fertile oases outside the Spirit Temple.