Mictlantecuhtli

Lord of the Dead

Mictlantecuhtli rules Mictlan, the deepest of the nine levels of the Aztec underworld. His name means "Lord of Mictlan." He is depicted as a skeletal figure wearing owl feathers.

The Nine Levels of Mictlan

Mictlan was the destination for those who died ordinary deaths. The journey took four years and involved passing through nine levels of trials.

Mictecacihuatl

Mictlantecuhtli's consort is Mictecacihuatl, Lady of the Dead. She is associated with Dia de los Muertos traditions.

The Bones of Humanity

In the creation myth, Quetzalcoatl descended to Mictlan to retrieve the bones of previous humanity from Mictlantecuhtli.

North and Darkness

Mictlantecuhtli is associated with the north, the direction of death in Aztec cosmology.