Mexico (Mexico City)

Statue of Mictecacihuatl (The Aztec Goddess of Death)

2388

Created during the Postclassic Period of Mesoamerican history, specifically within the Late Aztec (Mexica) Phase (approx. AD 1325–1521, commonly attributed to the 15th or early 16th century).

This object is a three-dimensional anthropomorphic stone sculpture carved in high and low relief from a solid block of local volcanic basalt. It depicts Mictecacihuatl, the Aztec Queen of the Underworld and Goddess of Death, shown in a powerful kneeling or squatting posture with her hands raised, featuring a skeletal human skull for a face, hollow eye sockets, bared teeth, and cascading stylized hair/headdress elements down the sides.