Do you believe in the evil eye? Does the Evil Eye Bead Really Won't Touch the Evil Eye?

What we call "evil eye" is a superstition for some and an important phenomenon that needs attention for others. Whether we believe or not, we have many rituals that have become a part of our lives. These rituals affect our lives directly and sometimes indirectly. The important thing is to develop a correct perspective on these cultural elements, not with our emotions, but with our minds, without getting caught up in this anaphora. Because we all know that when emotions rule a person, everything can get out of hand. Then it becomes difficult to understand what is right and what is wrong. For this reason, in today's article, I have researched the historical origin of a phenomenon that captures our emotions for you. Today, I would like to talk about the evil eye, a sociological reality that affects the lives of each of us and that I know will exist in our lives in the future. "What is the evil eye? Where is the historical origin of the evil eye, which some of us call blue beads to protect from the evil eye?" I will convey my views on similar questions.

In order to understand how the evil eye emerged, I think it is necessary to first understand the difference between the evil eye and the evil eye. It is believed that the eye-shaped evil eye bead acts as a protector against the 'evil eye'. What lies behind the evil eye is the feeling of jealousy and envy. During excavations in Egypt, many blue Eye of Horus or 'moon eye' remains were found. As the excavations show, the so-called evil eye dates back thousands of years in the life of mankind. However, it is still not so easy to determine the origin of the evil eye. 

It is believed that people who have achieved great success attract the envy of those around them, and that the evil eye can reverse one's fortune. This belief persists between cultures as well as between generations. Frederick Thomas Elworthy's research on the evil eye shows that the symbol of the evil eye is found in Irish fairy tales as well as in the Greeks, and despite its pagan context, it is also found in religious books such as the Bible and the Koran. 

Plutarch, a 1st century Greek philosopher, offered a scientific explanation: The human eye emitted an invisible ray, sometimes powerful enough to kill small children or animals. In some people living south of the Black Sea, the evil eye was more powerful. It was believed that people with blue eyes were more prone to the evil eye. This is attributed to the fact that blue eyes are genetically rare in the Mediterranean.

There are those who believe that the evil eye is actually a curse for the person whose gaze brings the evil eye. For example, an old Polish fairy tale tells of a man who plucked out his own eyes so that his loved ones would not be evil-eyed. The belief that one look could bring such a curse was so widespread that it led ancient civilisations to seek protection from it and brought the evil eye bead to the agenda. 

So how old is the evil eye bead? How old is the evil eye? In my research, Dr Neşe Yıldıran, professor of art history at Bahçeşehir University, says that the first evil eye bead dates back to 3300 BC. During the excavations in Tell Brak, one of the oldest cities of Mesopotamia, in what is now Syria, evil eye beads were found. The evil eye beads found were in the form of geometric figures carved from alabaster. However, they were not like the blue beads we know today. These appear in the Mediterranean region around 1500 BC. According to Yıldıran, glass evil eye beads in the Aegean Islands and Anatolia were directly related to the development of glass production. The blue colour was due to the highly oxidised glazed clay in Egypt. When the clay mixed with copper and cobalt was fired, it took on a blue colour. Knowing this, the Egyptians applied this technique to evil eye beads. 

Image caption The hand-shaped evil eye bead called hamsa is used by Jews, Christians and Muslims in the Middle East and North Africa. According to Yıldıran, excavations in Egypt have yielded many blue Eye of Horus or moon eyes. Today's evil eye beads may be based on these. In addition, ancient Turkish tribes admired the blue colour because of its proximity to the colour of the Sky God 'Tengri'. Therefore, they may have adopted the use of cobalt and copper. 

Blue evil eye beads gradually spread throughout the Mediterranean basin, eventually being used by the Phoenicians, Assyrians, Greeks, Romans and Ottomans. Although the use of the evil eye bead was more concentrated in the Mediterranean region, it also spread to other corners of the world through trade and the growth of empire. The interesting thing about the evil eye is not only that it has survived for a long time, but also that it has remained in use for thousands of years without much change. Just as the ancient Egyptians and Etruscans painted an evil eye on their ships to ensure their safe arrival, the same sign is used on the sides of aeroplanes today. In Turkey, newborn babies still wear evil eyes. 

Nevertheless, one wonders whether the meaning and history of the evil eye will be forgotten when it starts to be used in different ways in the modern world. Recently, some forms of use, such as the use of the evil eye, especially in fashion, have raised concerns about the corruption of cultural values. Yıldıran does not see this as a problem. "The evil eye is part of a large geography and has been open to all kinds of applications. We will continue to see various motifs derived from it," he says.

This symbol, which transcends cultural, religious and geographical boundaries, should not be seen only as a bead or fashion material. The evil eye has been in existence since the earliest periods of civilisation; it reflects the deepest and most enduring beliefs of humanity. It is up to you whether you believe in it or not. 

With respectful love