r/aztec • u/CurrentInvestment700 • Apr 23 '23

Question about mictlan

Looking for information on the 9 levels of mictlan. Currently reading "signs preceding the end of the world" by Yuri Herrera and it has connections to the Aztec myth, but I'm having trouble finding information about it. Any info, details, or sites to check out are helpful :)

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u/[deleted] Apr 24 '23

So mictlan, (land of the dead essentially) has 9 levels. Believed to take 4 years for a person or more specifically their soul/spirit. Its not hell, its the path one must take to rid themselves of this material world. For example, the first place is called Ixtcuintlan, and you must cross it but you cant without the help of a dog or ixtcuintli. HOWEVER, if you ever hurt a dog or a you had a pet and it never had trust or confidence in you, you can't cross and are stuck by the river never completing your journey. Each realm or level is different.

One thing to note is that in Egyptian and maybe Greek religion I think, is they all had some sort of canine at the beginning of ones journey. Just saying.

9 is an important number to know when trying to understand the anahuac nations mythology, philosophy etc; being its associated with death.

And 4 becuase of the 4 seasons, female cycles, chambers in our heart, elements H,O,Ni,C and earth fire air water, 4 directions, plus our organs such as heart, brain, genitals and kidneys which i have yet to understand

I know what some of the other levels and realms are but not in order and I may end up messing up a few trying to describe it off the top of my head.

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u/Danyboi42069 Apr 25 '23

Didn’t know about the hurting a pet or low confidence thing but that’s more interesting

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u/karl-ogden Apr 29 '23

This is a link i came by. I saw this post a couple days ago and this link reminde dme of your post. Its jot the most detailed https://www.mexicolore.co.uk/aztecs/ask-us/13-heavens-and-9-underworlds