Erlig Khan and the Palace of the Dead
Erlig Khan (also Erlik Khan) is the Mongol and Turkic god of death and ruler of the underworld. In one of the most famous Mongol tales, 'The Woman Who Sought Her Husband in the Palace of Erlik Khan,' a brave woman descends into the underworld to rescue her dead husband. She navigates past guardian spirits and offers tribute at the court of the terrifying Erlig Khan, who sits in judgment over the souls of the dead. Through her courage and devotion, she wins her husband's soul back. The story reflects the Mongol belief in a multi-layered cosmos where the underworld is a place of judgment but acc