In Aztec Mythology, the Cihuateteo or “Divine Women” were the spirits of women who died in childbirth. They were likened to male warriors who died in battle, as childbirth was seen as a form of combat. National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City [1920×2560]

In Aztec art, Cihuateteo are often depicted with macabre features, such as clenched fists, bared teeth, and aggressive poses, with taut stomachs, exposed breasts, and prominent nipples to highlight their unrealized potential as mothers. They were believed to reside in Cihuatlampa, the “place of women” in the west, and were tasked with guiding the sun into the west from noon until sunset