In Pre-Columbian thought, the life-death duality was part of its cosmogonical cycle, there was no rupture between both conceptions since at death one was reborn (Salas and Talavera, 2010). The life-death relationship was understood as a constant cycle, that is, it was not static but was in constant movement; as an example, the rainy season and life followed by the dry season and death, from which in turn life would emerge once again (Ortega, 2009).
From this conception, the underworld, Mictlán or the place where the dead went, was the land in which the corpses or the ashes of the bodies already perished were buried, and where at the same time the vegetation and food that nourished living beings grew. In this way, the land acquires a fertile character, which gave way to create the idea of earth-mother, the fertile womb in which the human being was regenerated and where he returned after an existential age (Johansson, 2012).
Among the multiple representations that evoke death are the Cihuateotl that have been located in places like El Zapotal and El Cocuite on the Gulf Coast, and that correspond to women who died in childbirth, who after dying went to Cincalcothe “house of corn” or to Cihuatampla “region of the women”; these Cihuateotl have been represented in sculptures that are characterized by closed eyes, which show the last image of the earthly world and the half-open mouth through which the spirit escapes (Beverido, 2006).
The two faces exhibited here evoke already deceased individuals, which can be perceived through closed eyes and an open mouth. Both figures wear circular earrings, elements on the head and have fragmented necks, which possibly indicates that the figurines continued with the part that corresponds to the body; the two representations are hollow.
One of the figures (Fig. 40) has a band or belt on the forehead which was attached with pastillage, behind this band a part of the black colored hair is perceived (possibly covered by tar) and in the central part of the skull there is what seems to be an unfortunately very fragmented headdress, so it is only possible to visualize the beginning of three rectangular elements, one in the center and two on the ends. The back is flat and has no decorative element.
The other figure (Fig. 28) wears a quite fragmented triangular headdress with circular adornments (part of the jewelry) located on the side edges, the base of the headdress is circular with remains of tar, on the sides there are two semi-triangular protruding elements. Part of the face and neck are painted with tar, it also has a necklace.
In Pre-Columbian thought, the life-death duality was part of its cosmogonical cycle, there was no rupture between both conceptions since at death one was reborn (Salas and Talavera, 2010). The life-death relationship was understood as a constant cycle, that is, it was not static but was in constant movement; as an example, the rainy season and life followed by the dry season and death, from which in turn life would emerge once again (Ortega, 2009).
