Hey Everyone it’s MIke Chen we’ve all been there,
An unexplained bout of ill health, persistent stroke of bad luck, a sharp decline in fortune,
an unexpected job loss, accident, sudden death, or any other calamity - now this could all
just be a coincidence or bad luck but it could also be blamed on the curse of the “evil
eye”!
For centuries, the so-called “malicious effects” of the evil eye have continued
to evoke a sense of fear among us mere mortals and the universal belief that the evil eye
is potent enough to bring about instant misfortune or injury is one that transcends civilizations,
tribes, cultures, religions, countries, and even continents!
Thus, you will find notable mention of this malevolent gaze in the ancient Greek and Roman
texts, in rabbinic literature, and also in the sacred books of the Bible and the Koran.
The concept of the evil eye was widely prevalent among the early Mediterranean and Asian tribes,
deeply embedded in the ancient Egyptian culture, and equally well-known during the times of
the Roman Empire!
Even today, the curse of the eye is as dreaded in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa as it
is looked upon with trepidation in the Americas and Europe!
Not to forget its long-standing symbolism in almost all major religions of the world,
including Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism.
So, what is the mystery behind the evil eye and how did it come to exert such a powerful
hold on our imagination?
Let’s dig into how it all started!
Origin and Promulgation of the Concept of the Unpleasant Stare that Attracts Bad Energy
The popular concept of the “evil eye” or “the dirty look” is an age-old one,
with origins in the great civilizations of antiquity.
Some believe that the first documented proof of this notion can be traced to the Mesopotamian
civilization which saw the recording of the evil eye on clay tablets, in the form of cuneiform
inscriptions.
Another school of thought believes that the human race’s conviction in the curse of
the evil eye dates back to Classical antiquity with noteworthy references from ancient Greek
and Roman philosophers, poets, writers, and authors, such as Hesiod, Plato, Heliodorus,
Pliny the Elder, and Aulus Gellius.
The king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia, Alexander the Great is said to have been instrumental
in propagating the idea of the evil eye throughout the Near East, while the European colonists
and West Asian immigrants are believed to have been responsible for introducing the
concept in the Americas.
Regardless of the varying thoughts about when and how the belief in the evil eye came into
being and spread its tentacles across the globe, it is evident that this notion is an
antique one that has been handed down from one generation to another, across geographies,
religions, and cultures.
Rationalisation of the Fear and Influence of the Evil Eye
Are you are wondering what the hoopla around the evil eye is all about?
Well, it is the special power of the eyes that underpins the propagation of the thought
that the human eyes are endowed with the incredible ability to cast a harmful spell, especially
when the spell is directed with emotions such as scorn and envy.
The power of the eye contact is long established, with its impact ranging from plain capturing
of one’s attention and laying the grounds for a deeply personal connection to the unnerving
probability of wielding significant control over one’s thoughts and emotions.
Apart from the mythologies that revolve around the evil eye’s so-called underlying malice,
the Greek biographer and essayist, Plutarch attempted to rationalize the fear of this
“magical” glare through a scientific explanation.
He attributed the source of one’s release of negative energies to his or her eyes that
acted as a gateway to one’s soul.
The curse of the evil eye can manifest itself in various forms, such as an injury, illness,
an overall decline in one’s wellbeing & prosperity, and even death.
Often, the curse is cast when a person is unguarded or unaware, making it difficult
for one to take preventive measures to safeguard himself or herself against the malicious intent
of the Eye.
Moreover, the belief that the curse of the Eye can also inflict harm on one’s loved
ones and livestock makes the evil eye more fearsome for people worldwide, albeit with
varying intensities.
Tales abound about how cattle and children died, plants and trees perished, cows failed
to produce milk, and more - all because they were subjected to a spiteful glare!
What Provokes The Curse of the Evil Eye?
So, what could be the possible reasons that could induce an onlooker to direct a curse
towards someone?
The obvious explanation for this tendency can be sought in the feeling of jealousy or
envy that is natural to humans along with a host of other emotions.
One’s enviable success, wealth, happiness, and beauty can quickly become the cause of
envy for others, at times to such an extent that it invites a maliciously intended stare
or gaze, capable of ruining all the prosperity and good fortune of the target!
Excessive adulation or praise is also believed to attract the attention of the evil eye.
This concept has been aptly elucidated by the Greek writer, Heliodorus of Emesa in his
famous Greek novel, Aethiopica.
According to Heliodorus, “When any one looks at what is excellent with an envious eye he
fills the surrounding atmosphere with a pernicious quality, and transmits his own envenomed exhalations
into whatever is nearest to him”.
Apart from jealousy, a deep-seated dislike can further prompt a person to put a curse
on someone by leveraging the evil eye.
The Significance of the Eye Color Other than a person’s nefarious intentions
and feelings of jealousy and contempt, the color of one’s eyes is also said to determine
whether he or she is capable of transmitting the evil eye!
People belonging to certain parts of the world are thought to be more adept in bestowing
a curse as opposed to their counterparts.
This is said to be true of Turkey’s Aegean Region where people with green or blue-colored
eyes are relatively rare.
It is believed that such people, with light-colored eyes, possess an uncanny ability to throw
a spell on others.
This belief was also corroborated by Plutarch who claimed that some of the natives of the
south of the Black Sea had a stronger ability to deliver the curse with their evil looks!
Ways to Negate the Harmful Effects of the Sinister Glare
Just as our profound belief in the evil eye dates back thousands of years, attempts to
repel its curse with protective talismans and eye amulets or “nazars” have also
been doing the rounds for centuries now.
According to art history professor, Dr. Nese Yildiran, the earliest form of the nazars
or eye amulets can be traced to 3,300 BC in one of Mesopotamia’s oldest cities - Tell
Brak.
These amulets, made out of alabaster, depicted eye images incised on them.
The present-day blue glass amulets made their appearance in the Mediterranean much later,
i.e., not until around 1500 BCE.
The use of protecting imagery to thwart the ill will of the evil eye was also common among
the early Egyptians who relied heavily on the symbolic image of the “Eye of Horus”
or “Wadjet” to dispel the curse.
They designed their funerary amulets in the shape of the Wadjet and also painted the symbol
on their ships to ensure the latter’s safety on the seas.
The Greeks made use of incense or the cross to ward off the curse, Scottish farmers safeguarded
their livestock with red ribbons tied to the tails of the animals, while the ancient Phoenicians
resorted to beaded necklaces featuring eye symbols for defense against the evil eye.
In recent times, apotropaic talismans, such as handmade balls showcasing concentric circles
or teardrop shapes in dark blue, white, light blue, and black are a common sight across
West and South Asia, the Middle East, Southeastern, Eastern and Southern Europe, and the Mediterranean,
Likewise, the popular palm-shaped Hamsa eye amulet can be seen throughout the Middle East
and North Africa, manifested in the form of jewelry and wall hangings.
The exploitation of objects such as strings, nails, garlic, salt, and indigo blue, use
of raw eggs to absorb negative energies, and the offering of an “azabache” bracelet
or a good luck charm to newly born babies for protection against envious looks, are
a few of the practices and traditions that are in prevalence in different countries and
cultures in order to nullify the damaging effects of the evil eye.
The Relevance of the Evil Eye in the 21st Century
With advancements in science and technology and rationalization of many erstwhile unexplainable
facts and phenomena, some of us present-day mortals may shrug off this age-old belief,
dismissing it as mere old-fashioned thought or superstition that lacks ground and does
not merit any serious thought.
However, we cannot deny or overlook the all-pervading influence of the evil eye in our day-to-day
lives.
From the world of fashion, music, entertainment, and jewelry design to the birth of newborn
babies and commencement of a new project or venture, there is ample evidence of the use
of the cobalt-blue evil eye imagery or nazar to ward off the baleful intentions of the
Eye!
Thus, it’s no surprise that we frequently get to witness A-list pop stars, models, and
Hollywood celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Madonna, Britney Spears, Brad Pitt, Cameron
Diaz, and Rhianna promoting Kabbalah bracelets and other evil eye amulets on numerous occasions.
Celebrated American model, Gigi Hadid has even collaborated with Stuart Weitzman to
design exclusive footwear styles dedicated to the mystical symbol of the evil eye - an
affirmation of the undying aura of mystery and awe surrounding the frightening eye!