The Maya's Xibalba and the Aztec's Mictlan (or even the Norse place of the dead (Niflheim), symbolized a realm where violations of religious and moral rules were punished.

Mictlan (Nahuatl pronunciation: [ˈmikt͡ɬaːn]) is the underworld of Aztec mythology. Most people who die would travel to Mictlan, although other possibilities exist (see "Other destinations", below). [1] Mictlan consists of nine distinct levels. [1]

Mictlan, the underworld in Aztec mythology, serves as a profound symbol of death, transformation, and the afterlife. As a critical component of the Aztec belief system, Mictlan embodies the complexities of the human experience, reflecting both fear and reverence towards death.

Mictlāntēcutli or Mictlantecuhtli (Nahuatl pronunciation: [mik.t͡ɬaːn.ˈteːkʷ.t͡ɬi], meaning "Lord of Mictlan"), in Aztec mythology, is a god of the dead and the king of Mictlan (Chicunauhmictlan), the lowest and northernmost section of the underworld.

Mictlan, in Aztec mythology, represents the Underworld and is a crucial aspect of the Aztec cosmological framework. It is viewed not merely as a place of death, but as a complex realm where souls traverse after they leave the physical world.