See, for example, the Temple of the Inscriptions at Palenque, Temple I at Tikal, or the Pyramid of Kukulcan at Chichen Itza. The Maya, believing the underworld had nine different levels, represented this idea in the gigantic stone pyramids they built as tombs for their kings which often have nine tiers. The Milky Way was also considered an entrance to Xibalba and the road along which souls walked to meet their fate. Xibalba was entered through a cave or area of still water in Tlalticpac, which was the surface of the earth and the first of the nine underworld levels.
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The Geography of Xibalbaįor the Maya Xibalba lay to the far west, hence the great number of burials made on the islands of Campeche, located off the west coast of the Yucatan peninsula, making it the most western Maya territory. Xibalba was also the scene of many adventures by the heroes of Maya mythology, especially the Hero Twins. The underworld was a truly fearsome place, strongly associated with water it had its own landscape, gods, and blood-thirsty predators. Ideas such as leading a good life and avoiding eternal torment by not doing bad things were not part of the Maya belief system, as only those who died a violent death avoided Xibalba. There was, unfortunately, not much chance of escaping the place, either.
![seven lost caves of aztec seven lost caves of aztec](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Gq_ykFhSY_U/maxresdefault.jpg)
The name Xibalba translates as 'Place of Fright', which indicates the terror the place had in the Maya imagination. For the Yucatec Maya the underworld was known as Metnal. Xibalba (Shee-bal-ba) was the name the K'iche Maya gave to the underworld.