Xibalba

About

Xibalba, pronounced roughly as "place of fright," is the Kʼicheʼ name for the Underworld in Maya mythology, also known as Mitnal in Yucatec. This realm was ruled by the Maya death gods and their helpers. During the 16th century in Verapaz, the entrance to Xibalba was traditionally believed to be located in a cave near Cobán, Guatemala. Cave systems in nearby Belize have similarly been identified as potential entrances to this mythological underworld. In certain Maya regions, the Milky Way holds spiritual significance as the road leading to Xibalba.