Tradition & Beliefs
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According to pre-Columbian beliefs and cosmovision, the manner in which a person died determined their final destination after death: either the thirteen Heavens or the Mictlán.
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| The thirteen Heavens were the levels of destination for males who had died violently, especially during battle. Women who died during childbirth, the Cihuateteos, would become goddesses and their destination after death was also a level of the thirteen Heavens. |
Thirteen Heavens
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Omeyocan Teteocan Red Yellow White Obsidian Knives Tláloc Blue Huitzilopochtli Green/black Tezcatlipoca Citlallinpopoca Citlapol Venus Tonatiuh Cintlalco Meztli Tlazolteotl
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Mictlán
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Those who died of natural causes descended to Mictlán. They had to overcome a series of magical battles and obstacles, and after four years the dead reached a state of peace.
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Tlalocan
| Among the thirteen Heavens was the Tlalocan, an eternal Spring paradise full of creativity, which was held in reserve for males who drowned or had otherwise died by manifestations of water. Tlalocan was also the destination for people that were physically deformed and for priests responsible for Tláloc. |
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Life & Death
| This image portrays one of the most significant symbols and concepts of the Meso- American cultures. The God of Creation is planting Life while the God of Death is harvesting Death. |
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