In Mayan mythology, Yum Kimil (also known as Ah Puch) was the god of death, disease and disaster. He was the ruler of Mitnal (the 9th level of the Mayan Underworld, the lowest and worst part of it). He was depicted as a skeleton or corpse adorned with bells. Sometimes he was depicted with a human head, sometimes with an owl's head (the Mayans believed an owl's screech signified someone would die soon).