Michtlantecuhtli at The British Museum, London

myminifactory

Mictlantecuhtli stood at the center of a death cult's dark rituals. This imposing figure donned a skull mask and on its shoulder and back sported intricate glyphs depicting skill, vulture, and house. Coastal styles seem to have inspired Aztec sculptors, who drew upon local influences to create their masterpieces. The sandstone from which this statue was carved likely originated in Veracruz, where skilled artisans extracted it from the earth. As the Aztecs expanded their empire through conquest, they plundered captured treasures like this one and proudly displayed them in their own temples at Tenochtitlan. This remarkable object is part of "Scan The World", a groundbreaking initiative launched by MyMiniFactory to create a comprehensive digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the globe for everyone's free access. Scan The World is an open-source community project that relies on contributions from people like you; if you have unique items in your surroundings that you'd like to share with the world, simply email stw@myminifactory.com to discover how you can be a part of this exciting endeavor.