The evil eye is a widespread belief in a malevolent glare, usually directed at a person who is unaware, that can cause misfortune, injury, or even death. Rooted in the idea that envy or excessive praise can manifest as a tangible curse, this belief has persisted for millennia, with its origins tracing back to ancient civilizations. Classical antiquity provides some of the earliest written accounts; Greek authors referred to it as baskania, and Romans called it fascinatio. The Roman writer Plutarch suggested that the eyes were the primary source of deadly rays capable of inflicting harm upon others, a notion that captured the core mechanics of this ancient superstition.
Featured image: In 1939, a villa discovered in Çekmece near Antakya contained several mosaics, including one depicting the Evil Eye, which gave the site its name, the House of the Evil Eye. Among the figurative mosaics are scenes of Heracles battling serpents, the Lucky Hunchback, and a bald dwarf confronting the Evil Eye while holding talismanic sticks, accompanied by a curse inscription reading “and you too.” Source
The Gaze in European Folklore
In early modern Europe, the concept of the evil eye became deeply intertwined with witchcraft. Demonologists and witch-hunters, such as the French magistrate Henri Boguet, documented the belief that witches possessed physical abnormalities that signaled their malevolent power. One of the most striking claims was that a witch could be identified by having two pupils in one eye. This trait, also noted in folklore from Illyria (the western Balkans) and Italy, was considered an undeniable sign of a person capable of wielding a deadly gaze. In Spain, the power of the mal de ojo was not limited to witches; it was believed that certain enchanters could poison wells, sicken children, or even shatter a glass window with nothing more than a look.
This belief was equally potent in the British Isles. In Scotland and Ireland, the evil eye, known as droch-shùil in Scottish Gaelic, was a common explanation for sudden illness in livestock or people. To counteract its effects, people relied on apotropaic magic—protective rituals and objects. Iron, long held to have protective qualities against supernatural forces, was a common defense. A horseshoe hung over a door or a hidden iron nail could repel the baleful stare.
Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Traditions
The belief in the evil eye is perhaps most prominent in the Mediterranean and the Middle East, where it remains a part of daily life and language. In Greece, newborns are considered especially vulnerable. To protect them, a small black smudge might be placed on their forehead, or they might be veiled from the sight of strangers. These practices are intended to deflect envy and prevent the harm it can cause. The concept is deeply embedded in religious traditions of the region, appearing in the Talmud and finding expression in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic cultures.
To ward off the evil eye, a variety of amulets and charms are used. The most iconic is the Nazar, a cobalt blue, eye-shaped amulet popular in Turkey, Greece, and surrounding regions. It is designed to reflect the malevolent gaze back to its source. Another powerful symbol is the Hamsa or Hand of Fatima, a stylized hand-shaped amulet used widely in the Middle East and North Africa for protection. In Italy, particularly in the south, the cornicello (a small, horn-shaped amulet) is worn to ward off bad luck, including the evil eye. These objects are not merely decorative; they are active tools in a spiritual defense against a perceived threat. Modern anthropological studies view the evil eye as a social leveling mechanism—a way to discourage excessive pride or the flaunting of wealth, thereby reducing social tensions born from envy.
