The Aztec people believed in a paradise and an underworld, which was the lowest level of the afterlife. The “Upper World” aka paradise had thirteen levels all together. Whereas the Underworld only had a total of nine levels. For the Aztecs, it was not the way a person lived their life that would determine the consequences of their fate after death. It was the way that they died that would decide on whether they would go to the sun god or the underworlds.
Tlalocan is the first level of the heavens (aka the Upper World). It is also referred to as a paradise, where Tlaloc rules along with Chalchiuhtlicue. It has been described before as a place where the springtime never ends. There is lots of greenery and all the plants found there are edible. Aztecs who were killed by drowning, lightning, flooding, or by a disease that is associated with water would go here. Anyone with a physical deformity would also go here when they passed on.
Mictlan is the lowest level in the Underworld. It was located far to the North. This level was where Aztec women who died in childbirth went. People who died by lightning also went here as well. To get from the first level to the ninth level was very difficult and took at least four years. All of the dead Aztecs had to pass several very challenging obstacles. For example, they would have to cross a river full of blood with fearsome jaguars.
Tlalocan is the first level of the heavens (aka the Upper World). It is also referred to as a paradise, where Tlaloc rules along with Chalchiuhtlicue. It has been described before as a place where the springtime never ends. There is lots of greenery and all the plants found there are edible. Aztecs who were killed by drowning, lightning, flooding, or by a disease that is associated with water would go here. Anyone with a physical deformity would also go here when they passed on.
Mictlan is the lowest level in the Underworld. It was located far to the North. This level was where Aztec women who died in childbirth went. People who died by lightning also went here as well. To get from the first level to the ninth level was very difficult and took at least four years. All of the dead Aztecs had to pass several very challenging obstacles. For example, they would have to cross a river full of blood with fearsome jaguars.