Mictlantecuhtli

Mictlantecuhtli is a deity in the Aztec pantheon, often associated with death, the underworld, and the afterlife. His name translates to "Lord of the Mictlan," where Mictlan is the realm of the dead. Mictlantecuhtli is depicted as a skeletal figure, often holding a skull or a human heart, symbolizing his dominion over life and death. He is also associated with the four hundred days of mourning that followed the death of a ruler, during which the Aztec people would fast and perform rituals to honor the deceased.

Mictlantecuhtli is one of the four hundred gods of the Aztec pantheon, and he is often depicted alongside other deities such as Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent god, and Tezcatlipoca, the god of fate and destiny. He is also associated with the god Xipe Totec, who is often depicted as a skull or a mummy, and the goddess Mictecacihuatl, who is associated with the underworld and the afterlife.

Mictlantecuhtli is often invoked in rituals and ceremonies to ensure a peaceful transition to the afterlife. He is also associated with the concept of time, as the four hundred days of mourning are a period of transition between life and death. In Aztec mythology, Mictlantecuhtli is a complex and multifaceted deity, embodying both the fear and the acceptance of death.