Miktlan

Mictlán is the underworld in Aztec mythology, serving as the final resting place for the majority of deceased individuals. Unlike other Aztec deities associated with death, such as Mictlantecuhtli and Mictecacihuatl, Mictlán is not a personified entity but rather a realm governed by its rulers. The journey to Mictlán is a perilous one, often described in detail within Aztec creation myths and funeral rituals.

According to legend, those who die of natural causes or old age are destined for Mictlán. The underworld is divided into nine levels, each representing a different stage of the soul’s descent. The journey begins with the deceased crossing the chaotic waters of the river Chiconahuapan, guarded by the monstrous dog Xolotl, who tests the soul’s courage. The traveler must then navigate various obstacles, including mountains, caves, and the ever-present dangers of the underworld, such as skeletal warriors and other supernatural beings.

The journey typically takes four years, symbolizing the time it takes for the body to decompose. Only those who successfully complete the trials are granted entry into Mictlán, where they are reunited with their ancestors. The underworld is not a place of punishment but rather a neutral realm where the dead await the eventual resurrection of humanity during the Fifth Sun cycle, as prophesied in Aztec cosmology.

Mictlán plays a significant role in Aztec funeral practices, particularly the *Tlacaxipehualiztli* festival, where warriors were honored for their deaths in battle, bypassing the trials of Mictlán. The underworld’s themes of transformation and rebirth reflect the Aztec belief in the cyclical nature of life, death, and renewal.