Which Aztec goddess ruled over the underworld alongside Mictlantecuhtli?

Mictecacihuatl was the Aztec goddess who ruled the underworld alongside Mictlantecuhtli. Her name is commonly translated as “Lady of the Dead,” while Mictlantecuhtli was the male god of the dead and ruler of Mictlan.

Mictecacihuatl was associated with watching over the bones of the dead and presiding over ancient festivals honoring the deceased. Mictlan was the lowest and northernmost region of the Aztec underworld, and the pair were understood as its ruling couple. Their partnership reflects a recurring pattern in Aztec religion of paired male and female forces governing major cosmic domains.

Later traditions often connect Mictecacihuatl with the development of the modern Day of the Dead, though the contemporary festival also incorporates substantial Spanish and Catholic influences. Artistic depictions may show her with a flayed body and an open jaw, imagery tied to death and the swallowing of stars during daylight. She should not be confused with Mictlan itself, which is the realm, or with Mictlantecuhtli, who is her consort and the underworld’s male ruler.