In Turkey, it is known by the name nazar boncuğu (the latter word being a derivative of ''boncuk'', "bead" in Turkic, and the former borrowed from Arabic), in Greece is known as mati ( the evil eye). In
Persian and Afghan folklore, it is called a cheshm nazar ( fa, چشم نظر) or nazar qurbāni ( fa, نظرقربانی, links=no). In India and Pakistan, the Hindi-Urdu slogan ''
Chashm-e-Baddoor'' is used to ward off the evil eye. In the Indian subcontinent, the phrase "Nazar lag gai" is used to indicate that one has been affected by the evil eye.
It is commonly believed that the evil eye can be given in the guise of a compliment, signifying its connection to the destructive power of envy (for one’s wealth, beauty etc.). Amulets such as the Nazar are used in accordance with common sayings such as "an eye for an eye", where another eye can be used to protect the recipient of the malefic gaze. The evil eye causes its victim to become unwell the next day, unless a protective phrase such as "With the will of God" ("Masha'llah" in Arabic) is recited.
Among adherents of Hinduism and Islam in South Asia, when a mother observes that her child is being excessively complimented, it is common for them to attempt to neutralize the effects of the evil eye (''nazar utarna'') by "holding red chilies in one hand and circling the child's head a few times, then burning the chilies."
It originated in
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia ''Mesopotamíā''; ar, بِلَاد ٱلرَّافِدَيْن or ; syc, ܐܪܡ ܢܗܪ̈ܝܢ, or , ) is a historical region of Western Asia situated within the Tigris–Euphrates river system, in the northern part of the F ...
and was first brought to Mediterranean countries through trade.
The nazar was added to
Unicode
Unicode, formally The Unicode Standard,The formal version reference is is an information technology Technical standard, standard for the consistent character encoding, encoding, representation, and handling of Character (computing), text expre ...
as in 2018.
Amulet
A typical nazar is made of handmade glass featuring concentric circles or teardrop shapes in dark blue, white, light blue and black, occasionally with a yellow/gold edge.
[''Lonely Planet Middle East.''Lonely Planet; 6 edition, 2009, p. 559.]
Eye bead
The Turkish ''boncuk'' (sometimes called a ''göz boncuğu'' or eye bead) is a glass bead characterized by a blue glass field with a blue or black dot superimposed on a white or yellow center. Historically old, the blue bead has gained importance as an item of popular
culture
Culture () is an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities, and habits of the individuals in these groups.Tyl ...
in Modern Turkey. The bead probably originated in the
Mediterranean
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the e ...
and is associated with the development of glass making. Written documents and extant beads date as early as the 16th century BC. Glass beads were made and widely used throughout the ancient world: from
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia ''Mesopotamíā''; ar, بِلَاد ٱلرَّافِدَيْن or ; syc, ܐܪܡ ܢܗܪ̈ܝܢ, or , ) is a historical region of Western Asia situated within the Tigris–Euphrates river system, in the northern part of the F ...
to
Egypt
Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediter ...
, from
Carthage
Carthage was the capital city of Ancient Carthage, on the eastern side of the Lake of Tunis in what is now Tunisia. Carthage was one of the most important trading hubs of the Ancient Mediterranean and one of the most affluent cities of the classi ...
and
Phoenicia
Phoenicia () was an ancient thalassocratic civilization originating in the Levant region of the eastern Mediterranean, primarily located in modern Lebanon. The territory of the Phoenician city-states extended and shrank throughout their histor ...
to
Persia
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
, and throughout the
Roman imperial period
The Roman imperial period is the expansion of political and cultural influence of the Roman Empire. The period begins with the reign of Augustus (), and it is taken to end variously between the late 3rd and the late 4th century, with the beginning ...
.
Gallery
File:Nazar Amulet in Turkey.jpg, Nazar Amulet
File:Evil Eye Beads.jpg, Turkish Nazar Eye Beads
File:Nazar.jpg, Nazar-inspired sculpture in the Netherlands.
File:Evil eye.jpg, Nazar evil eye charms.
File:Cheshm-Nazar.JPG, A Persian ''cheshm nazar''.
File:Nazar on the door.jpg, Nazar on a newborn baby's hospital room door in Turkey
Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...
.
File:Jewish Amulets.jpg, A selection of Jewish amulets, an ''ayin mazal'' is visible next to the hamsa
The ''hamsa'' ( ar, خمسة, khamsa) is a palm-shaped amulet popular throughout North Africa and in the Middle East and commonly used in jewellery and wall hangings.Bernasek et al., 2008p. 12Sonbol, 2005pp. 355–359 Depicting the open right h ...
.
See also
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Evil eye
The Evil Eye ( grc, ὀφθαλμὸς βάσκανος; grc-koi, ὀφθαλμὸς πονηρός; el, (κακό) μάτι; he, עַיִן הָרָע, ; Romanian: ''Deochi''; it, malocchio; es, mal de ojo; pt, mau-olhado, olho gordo; ar ...
*
Darśana
Hindu philosophy encompasses the philosophies, world views and teachings of Hinduism that emerged in Ancient India which include six systems ('' shad-darśana'') – Samkhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Mimamsa and Vedanta.Andrew Nicholson (20 ...
*
Eyespot (mimicry)
An eyespot (sometimes ocellus) is an eye-like marking. They are found in butterflies, reptiles, cats, birds and fish.
Eyespots could be explained in at least three different ways. They may be a form of mimicry in which a spot on the body of an ...
*
Görece, Menderes
Görece is a village in the Menderes district of Izmir Province, Turkey. It is known for its production of eye beads.
Today, the real eye beads are produced only in Görece and Kurudere (Kemalpaşa) villages near Izmir by a handful of craftsme ...
*
Hamsa
The ''hamsa'' ( ar, خمسة, khamsa) is a palm-shaped amulet popular throughout North Africa and in the Middle East and commonly used in jewellery and wall hangings.Bernasek et al., 2008p. 12Sonbol, 2005pp. 355–359 Depicting the open right h ...
*
Nazar battu
*
Skandola
The skandola (literally meaning "dwelling of evil") is a ritual talismanic seal used by Mandaeans to protect against evil.
Description
The skandola is an iron ring with a chain attached to an iron knife. It is used as a sacred talismanic seal. ...
*
Ta'wiz
References
Sources
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External links
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{{Superstitions
Talismans
Amulets
Turkish words and phrases
Occultism (Islam)
Superstitions of Asia
Superstitions of Europe
Turkish culture
Magic symbols
Arabic words and phrases