In Aztec beliefs, the god of the dead is known as Mictlantecuhtli. He rules the underworld, Mictlan, and oversees the souls of the deceased, guiding them through the afterlife. Often depicted with a skeletal face and adorned with symbolic elements, Mictlantecuhtli embodies the inevitability of death and the importance of rituals in honoring the dead. His presence in religious practices reflects the Aztec understanding of life cycles and the vital role of the afterlife in cultural and spiritual identities, emphasizing respect for ancestors and the continuity of existence.