mictlan

Classical Nahuatl

Etymology

From miqui (“to die”) +‎ -tlān. The term was equated with the Christian conception of hell following the Spanish conquest.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [ˈmik.t͡ɬaːn]

Noun

mictlān (locative)

The underworld of Aztec mythology.
- 1555: Alonso de Molina, Aqui comienca vn vocabulario en la lengua castellana y mexicana, f. 149r.
  Ynfierno lugar de dañados. mictlan. mictlactli. [sic]
  Hell, the place of the damned. mictlan. mictlantli.
- 1571: Idem, Vocabulario en lengua castellana y mexicana y mexicana y castellana, f. 75r. col. 2.
  Ynfierno,lugar de dañados.mictlan. mictlantli.
  Hell, the place of the damned. mictlan. mictlantli.
- Idem, f. 56r. col. 2.
  Mictlan.infierno, o enel infierno, o al infierno.
  Mictlan. hell, or in hell, or toward hell.

Derived terms

mictlāmpa
mictlāncāyōtl
Mictlāntēuctli
mictlāntli

Related terms

miquiztli

References

Alonso de Molina (1571) Vocabulario en lengua castellana y mexicana y mexicana y castellana, Editorial Porrúa, pages 75, 56

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