Mixtec God of the Underworld Aztec Archaeology Ceramic God of the Underworld Sculpture

Seated with elbows on his bony knees, Mictlantecuhtli is a skeletal specter, revered throughout most of Mexico's pre-Hispanic cultures as one of the most powerful deities. Members of the Angel Ceron Artisan Association present their own interpretation of an image of the Aztec god of death found in Mexico's Xalapa Museum of Anthropology. The artisans shape the frightening personage by hand, fire it and give it an aged finish. Mictlantecuhtli was considered the king of the underworld realm of Mictlán, and was thus the Lord of Death.