For thousands of years, people around the world have feared a single, powerful idea: the gaze that brings harm. It is known by many names—mal de ojo, nazar, mati, ayn al-hasud—but everywhere, the concept is the same. A look filled with envy, anger, or ill intent can cause misfortune, sickness, or spiritual imbalance.
The “evil eye” is one of the oldest and most widespread pieces of magical and religious folklore in human history. It crosses continents, languages, and belief systems, shaping talismans, rituals, prayers, and cultural traditions that still exist today.
This article explores where the evil eye came from, how it spread, and why it remains powerful even in the modern world.
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What Is the Evil Eye? A Universal Fear
The evil eye is based on a simple idea:
your gaze carries energy—positive or negative—and that energy can affect others.
In its harmful form, this energy is believed to cause:
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sudden illness
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loss of fortune
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bad luck
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spiritual attack
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fatigue or anxiety
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harm to children or livestock
The fear of envy is central. Across cultures, people believed that when someone looked at you with jealousy or resentment, their gaze could “pierce” your energy field and disrupt your well-being.
This universal belief created thousands of years of spiritual protection practices—many of which survive today.
Origins: The Evil Eye in the Ancient World
1. Mesopotamia: The First Written Evidence
The earliest references to the evil eye appear in Sumerian and Akkadian tablets more than 5,000 years ago. Ancient Mesopotamians believed:
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Envy was a dangerous magical force
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The gods punished arrogance by allowing envious people to harm the proud
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Protective amulets and incantations were necessary for survival
Clay tablets contain prayers explicitly asking the gods to shield individuals from “the evil eye of the jealous.”
2. Ancient Egypt: The Eye as Power
Egyptian culture treated eyes as symbols of life force and divine energy. While the Eye of Horus is a protective symbol, ancient Egyptians also feared hostile gazes that could disrupt one’s ka, the vital spirit. They used:
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amulets
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carved eyes
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ritual spells
to deflect harmful spiritual force.
3. Greece: The Classical Evil Eye (Baskania)
The Greeks developed one of the most detailed ancient theories of the evil eye, calling it baskanos. They believed:
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beauty attracts envy
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envy produces a destructive force
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certain people naturally carry a harmful gaze
This belief spread throughout the Mediterranean through Greek colonization and trade.
Plato and Plutarch even wrote about the evil eye as a real energetic force emitted from the human eye.
4. Rome: Fascinum and the Power of the Gaze
The Roman version of the evil eye, fascinum, was considered so dangerous that:
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soldiers wore phallic amulets
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infants were protected with charms
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even crops and animals were shielded during festivals
Roman priests known as Fascinatores were believed to specialize in combating the curse.
The Evil Eye Across Major Cultures
The Middle East: Nazar and the Blue Eye
In the Middle East—especially Turkey, Iran, and the Levant—the evil eye is called:
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nazar (Turkish, Arabic, Persian)
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ayin hara (Hebrew)
The modern blue-and-white glass eye amulet, known as the nazar boncuğu, has roots dating back thousands of years. The color blue was believed to:
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repel negative energy
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counteract envy
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reflect the harmful gaze back to the sender
This symbol became one of the most recognizable talismans in the world.
India: Drishti and the Fear of Envy
In India, the belief in the evil eye—called drishti, nazar, or buri nazar—is deeply woven into daily life. Protective traditions include:
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black dots on infants
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lemon-chili amulets on doorways
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charcoal or soot marks on vehicles
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ritual cleansing with salt or mustard seeds
Here, the evil eye is believed to disrupt prana, the life force, making spiritual cleansing essential.
The Mediterranean: Mati, Malocchio, and Ancient Rituals
Greece (Mati)
The “mati” symbol and hand gestures like the figa (closed hand with thumb tucked) are used to protect against envious gazes. Greeks still perform xematiasma, a ritual to lift the curse.
Italy (Malocchio)
In Italy, malocchio is taken seriously, especially in southern regions. Traditional remedies include:
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oil and water tests
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incantations passed secretly from elders
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protective cornuto amulets
Italian folk magic treats malocchio as a major cause of unexplained illness.
Jewish Tradition: Ayin Hara
In Judaism, the evil eye is referenced in biblical texts and rabbinic literature. It is believed that:
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public displays of wealth invite the evil eye
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blessings should be spoken carefully
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envy opens the door for spiritual harm
Traditions such as the hamsa—the protective hand—evolved as a defense against jealousy and judgment.
Africa: Spiritual Warfare and Protective Rituals
Across North and West Africa, the evil eye blends with indigenous spiritual beliefs. Symptoms of attack include:
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sudden exhaustion
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unexplained illness
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bad luck or misfortune
Protection methods include:
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herbal preparations
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protective beads and charms
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blessing rituals
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ancestral invocations
The Americas: From Indigenous Traditions to Folk Catholicism
Latin America (Mal de Ojo)
In Latin America, mal de ojo is especially feared for children, believed to cause:
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crying
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fever
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weakness
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agitation
Cures include:
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passing an egg over the body
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prayer
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folk blessings
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rosemary smoke
The concept came from Spanish and Middle Eastern traditions but merged with Indigenous practices.
North America
In hoodoo, the evil eye overlaps with:
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envy-based hexing
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spiritual attacks
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psychic intrusion
Protection includes mirrors, herbs, and talismans, echoing ancient principles.
Why the Evil Eye Endures: A Psychological and Spiritual Explanation
The evil eye persists because it expresses something profoundly human:
envy has power.
We intuitively feel that jealousy—whether directed at us or coming from within—can damage relationships, health, and opportunities.
Cultures worldwide turned this emotional truth into a spiritual system.
The evil eye survives because:
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envy is universal
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people fear unearned misfortune
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the idea provides meaning to unexplained events
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protection rituals create comfort and control
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talismans offer psychological security
Whether you view it as magic, energy, psychology, or cultural wisdom, the evil eye continues to shape human behavior.
Modern Evil Eye Beliefs: Why It’s Still So Popular
Today, the evil eye has found new life in:
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jewelry and fashion
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online spiritual communities
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New Age practices
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social media trends
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wellness culture
People wear the symbol for:
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protection
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grounding
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spiritual boundaries
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energetic cleansing
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cultural identity
Far from fading, the evil eye has become more widespread than ever.
Final Thoughts
The evil eye is one of humanity’s oldest shared beliefs—a fear of harmful envy and the unseen forces that shape our lives. From Mesopotamia to Greece, India to the Americas, cultures developed powerful rituals and symbols to defend themselves from its influence.
Its message endures:
Protect your energy.
Guard your blessings.
Be mindful of envy—both given and received.
Whether interpreted spiritually or symbolically, the evil eye remains a powerful reminder of the impact that intention, emotion, and unseen forces can have on our lives.
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About the Author: Alex Assoune
Alex Assoune (MS) is a global health and environmental advocate. He founded Panaprium to inspire others with conscious living, ethical, and sustainable fashion. Alex has worked in many countries to address social and environmental issues. He speaks three languages and holds two Master of Science degrees in Engineering from SIGMA and IFPEN schools.
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