Apep (AKA Apophis) was an evil god in ancient Egyptian religion depicted as a snake/serpent, the deification of darkness and chaos, and thus opponent of light and order. Ra was the solar deity, bringer of light, and thus the upholder of Order. Apophis was viewed as the greatest enemy of Ra, and thus was given the title Enemy of Ra.

In Maya mythology, Camazotz was a bat god. Camazotz means "death bat". In Mesoamerica the bat was associated with night, death, and sacrifice. Camazotz are the bat-like monsters encountered by the Maya Hero Twins Hunahpu and Xbalanque during their trials in the underworld of Xibalba. The twins had to spend the night in the House of Bats where they squeeze themselves into their own blowguns in order to defend themselves from the circling bats. Hunahpu stuck his head out of his blowgun to see if the sun had risen and Camazotz immediately snatched off his head and carried it to the ballcourt to be hung up as the ball to be used by the gods in their next ballgame.

In Yucatec society, under certain circumstances, suicide, especially suicide by hanging, was considered an honorable way to die. Ixtab would accompany such suicides to paradise (thus playing the role of a psychopomp). Here, joined by people who died as soldiers or as sacrificial victims, by women who died in childbirth and by members of the priesthood, they enjoyed a delectable existence rewarded with delicious food and drink and resting under the shade of a pleasant tree, Yaxche, free from all want.

The ancient Maya believed that suicides went directly to paradise. They had a special goddess who was considered the particular patron of those who killed themselves by hanging. Her name was Ixtab - She of the Rope - goddess of suicide. This goddess can be seen in the Dresden codex, where she appears hanging from the sky by a rope which is coiled around her neck. Her eyes are closed in death and on one of he