What culture believed that after a person died hisher soul would pass through nine levels prior to their final destination Mictlan - the place of the dead?

The Aztec culture believed that after a person died, their soul would journey through nine levels of the underworld, known as Mictlan, before reaching its final destination. This journey involved various challenges and trials, reflecting the importance of proper burial rites and rituals to ensure the deceased could navigate these levels successfully. Mictlan was ruled by the god Mictlantecuhtli and was considered the ultimate resting place for souls who had died of natural causes. The belief highlights the Aztecs' deep understanding of life, death, and the afterlife.