Mictlantecuhtli, God of Death

Cultural Context

Stone representation of Mictlantecuhtli, the lord of the underworld in Mexica cosmology. The figure is shown frontally in a seated position with crossed arms, a distinctive feature of death deity representations. The skeletal face and elaborate headdress are iconographic elements that reinforce his identity as a deity of Mictlán, the realm of the dead. This representation is part of the rich Mexica sculptural tradition that sought to materialize fundamental cosmological and religious concepts.