Mictlāntēcutli

Mictlantecuhtli (pronounced Mik-tlan-te-kut-li) is the ruler of the underworld in Aztec mythology, often referred to as the god of death. His name translates to "lord of Mictlan," the Aztec underworld or the place of the dead. In Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs, "Mictlan" means "place of the dead," and "tecuhtli" means "lord" or "ruler." There is no direct translation for Mictlantecuhtli in Hebrew, but the concept of an underworld ruler is not entirely foreign, with figures like Sheol in the Hebrew Bible representing a realm of the dead. In Spanish, Mictlantecuhtli is sometimes referred to as "Señor de la Muerte" or "Señor de Mictlan," translating to "Lord of Death" or "Lord of Mictlan," respectively. Mictlantecuhtli is typically depicted with a skeletal appearance, often adorned with a skull or skeletal features, and is sometimes shown with a headdress made of banners or flags. He is a central figure in Aztec cosmology, embodying the inevitable end of life and the transition to the afterlife. His consort is Mictecacihuatl, the Lady of the Dead, who rules alongside him in Mictlan. Together, they preside over the afterlife and the souls of the deceased.