---
title: Mictlantecuhtli
author: Mark Cartwright
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/Mictlantecuhtli/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/)
updated: 2023-03-30
---
# Mictlantecuhtli
_Authored by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/)_
Mictlantecuhtli (*pron.* Mict-lan-te-cuht-li) or 'Lord of the Land of the Dead' was the [Aztec](https://www.worldhistory.org/Aztec_Civilization/) [god](https://www.worldhistory.org/God/) of [death](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Death/). He ruled the underworld (Mictlán) with his wife Mictecacíhuatl. Mictlantecuhtli was worshipped and feared across Mesoamerica. The god was closely associated with owls, spiders, bats, and the direction south.
Mictlantecuhtli was the ruler of the 10th day Itzcuintli (Dog), the 5th Lord of the Night, and the 6th (or 11th) Lord of the Day. He was the equivalent of the [Maya](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Maya/) god Yum Cimil, the [Zapotec](https://www.worldhistory.org/Zapotec_Civilization/) god Kedo, and the Tarascan god Tihuime.
### The Creation Myth
In the Aztec creation myth, Mictlantecuhtli attempted to delay the god [Ehecatl](https://www.worldhistory.org/Ehecatl/)-Quetzalcóatl on his journey into Mictlán. [Quetzalcoatl](https://www.worldhistory.org/Quetzalcoatl/) was searching for the bones of the creatures from the previous world of the 4th Sun in order to make mankind. Amongst the tricks and difficult tasks Mictlantecuhtli set was to insist that Quetzalcoatl could only take the bones away with him if he went around the underworld four times blowing a conch-shell trumpet. This task was not quite as simple as it seemed as the god of the underworld only gave Quetzalcoatl an ordinary conch-shell and so it would not sound. Quetzalcoatl got around the problem by having worms drill holes in the shell and placing bees inside it so that their buzzing would sound like a trumpet. Not to be outdone by this, Mictlantecuhtli let Quetzalcoatl think that he had got the better of things and allowed him to take the bones.
Mictlantecuhtli, then, far from giving up, arranged for his assistants, the Micteca, to dig a large pit so that Quetzalcoatl would stumble into it when he tried to leave Mictlán. Sure enough, when passing the pit and, unluckily startled by a passing quail, Quetzalcoatl fell into the trap and the bones became broken and scattered. However, Quetzalcoatl roused himself and gathering up the bones managed to extract himself from the pit and get away unscathed from the clutches of Mictlantecuhtli. Once safely delivered to the goddess Cihuacóatl, the bones were mixed with Quetzalcoatl's blood and from the mixture sprang forth the first men and [women](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/women/).
### Mictlán
Mictlantecuhtli was such an important god in the Aztec [pantheon](https://www.worldhistory.org/Pantheon/) because, as ruler of Mictlán, all souls would one day meet him face to face, for it was believed that only those who suffered a violent death, women who died in childbirth or people killed by storms or floods avoided the underworld in the afterlife. The Aztecs did not believe in a special paradise reserved only for the righteous but, rather, that all people shared the same destiny after death, regardless of the kind of life they had led. Souls would descend the nine layers of the underworld in an arduous four-year journey until eventually reaching extinction in the deepest part - Mictlan Opochcalocan. Mictlantecuhtli was particularly worshipped in the Aztec month of Tititl where, at the [temple](https://www.worldhistory.org/temple/) of Tlalxicco, an impersonator of the god was sacrificed, and incense was burned in his honour.
[  Mictlantecuhtli Statue Jade Koekoe (CC BY-NC-SA) ](https://www.worldhistory.org/image/4009/mictlantecuhtli-statue/ "Mictlantecuhtli Statue")### How is Mictlantecuhtli Represented in Art?
Mictlantecuhtli is usually portrayed in art as a skeleton or covered in bones with red spots representing blood. He may also wear a skull mask, bone ear plugs, a costume of owl feathers, and even a necklace of eyeballs. He has curly black hair and powerful eyes which allow him to penetrate the gloom of the underworld. On occasion, he can be wearing clothes and a conical hat made from bark-paper.
#### Editorial Review
This human-authored definition has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/).
## Bibliography
- [Almere Read, K. *Mesoamerican Mythology.* Oxford University Press, USA, 2002.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0195149092/)
- [Coe, M.D. *Mexico.* Thames & Hudson, 2013.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0500290768/)
- [Jones, D. *Mythology of Aztec & Maya.* Southwater, 2007.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/1844763978/)
- [Miller, M.E. *The Art of Mesoamerica.* Thames & Hudson, 2012.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0500204144/)
- [Miller, M.E. *The Gods and Symbols of Ancient Mexico and the Maya.* Thames & Hudson, 1993.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0500050686/)
- [Soustelle, J. *Daily Life of the Aztecs.* Dover Publications, 2011.](https://www.worldhistory.org/books/0486424855/)
## About the Author
Mark is WHE’s Publishing Director and has an MA in Political Philosophy (University of York). He is a full-time researcher, writer, historian and editor. Special interests include art, architecture and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share.
## Timeline
- **c. 1345 CE - 1521 CE**: The [Aztec civilization](https://www.worldhistory.org/Aztec_Civilization/) flourishes in Mesoamerica.
## Questions & Answers
### What is Mictlantecuhtli the god of?
Mictlantecuhtli was the Aztec god of death and ruler of the Underworld.
### Why was Mictlantecuhtli worshipped?
Mictlantecuhtli was worshipped because the Aztecs believed that almost everyone would one day arrive in the Underworld where the god ruled. Sacrifices were made to him and incense burned in order to gain his favour.
## Cite This Work
### APA
Cartwright, M. (2013, September 22). Mictlantecuhtli. *World History Encyclopedia*.
### Chicago
Cartwright, Mark. "Mictlantecuhtli." *World History Encyclopedia*, September 22, 2013. .
### MLA
Cartwright, Mark. "Mictlantecuhtli." *World History Encyclopedia*, 22 Sep 2013, .
## License & Copyright
Submitted by [Mark Cartwright](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/markzcartwright/ "User Page: Mark Cartwright"), published on 22 September 2013. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/deed.en). This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.