Key Info

- Spirits of women who died in childbirth.

- Compared to male warriors who died in battle, because childbirth was equivalent to battle for females

Brief Bio

In Mesoamerican mythology, specifically within the Aztec (Mexica) tradition, the Cihuateteo (or Cihuateotl, meaning "divine women") are the spirits of women who died in childbirth. These women were honored as fallen warriors because childbirth was considered a form of battle, and their deaths were seen as a sacrifice. The Cihuateteo were believed to be powerful and sometimes malevolent, haunting crossroads on specific nights, seeking to harm or possess the living, especially children.