Gods And Goddesses: Ah Puch

Ah Puch is the ruler of Mitnal and god of death. He is a skeletal figure with protruding ribs and at times wore bells. As he ruled over Mitnal, the lowest of the underworld and as god of death is associated with dogs and owls. Ah Puch is represented as a decomposing corpse with exposed spine, ribs and jaw. He was also called Kizin, The Stinky One, Lord of the Ninth Hell and Destructor of the Worlds.

Ah Puch was thought of as a hunting figure by the Mayans, stalking the houses of those who were injured or sick. People engaged in loud mourning after the death of a person in order to let Ah Puch know someone has died. Ah Puch once killed the god Iztamna and when this god was resurrected ah Puch was punished to the underworld. In anger of this confinement, Ah Puch kicks the pillars of which earth stands causing earthquakes.