The Evil Eye: meaning and its origins

by on February 21, 2023

the evil eye

Discover its meaning

AN ANCIENT SUPERSTITION THAT HAS EVOLVED.

Gamila Mostafa
A Rome-based travel artist,  founder of Teeris , oceans and nature lover.

The evil eye is an ancient superstition that has evolved. It's not just a myth but a real phenomenon caused by jealousy, envy, and hatred. The roots of this belief stretch back to ancient civilizations like Egypt, Greece, and Rome where people believed that negative energy could be transferred through visual contact. In fact, the word “amulet” comes from the Latin word "amuletum" meaning "protection against evil influences."

While some cultures use amulets to protect themselves from evil spirits or curses—such as those in Judaism and Christianity—others wear them to ward off illness or bad luck!

The evil eye is a curse believed to be cast by a malevolent glare

The evil eye is a curse believed to be cast by a malevolent glare, usually given to a child by an older relative. The belief in the power of this curse dates back many centuries and exists in many cultures around the world. In ancient times, it was believed that people could use their gaze (or even just an object) to cause harm or bad luck to others. The term "evil eye" comes from the Latin word mala (which means "bad") plus oculus (which means "eye"). In Italian folklore, it is called malocchio; in Spanish culture, mal de ojo; and in Turkish culture, it's known as nazar boncuğu, which translates roughly as "eye evil".

Back to ancient civilizations

The evil eye is believed to be cast by a malevolent glare, usually given to a child by an older relative. It is also believed to cause illness or death. The origins of the evil eye are uncertain but have been traced back to ancient civilizations such as Greece, Rome, and Egypt where it was thought that certain people had the ability to curse others simply by looking at them in a certain way.

The origins of the evil eye are uncertain but have been traced back to ancient civilizations. The Mesopotamian civilization believed an evil spirit could cause harm or illness by looking at someone with envy or jealousy. This belief was carried on by the Romans, who called this spirit "oculus malus." In Egyptian mythology, there is a deity named Apep who can inflict blindness and other injuries through his gaze alone--another example of how ancient people saw eyes as powerful sources of harm that needed protection against them.

Egypt, Greece, Rome, and other cultures

The evil eye is not unique to the Mediterranean, or Christianity. It has been around for thousands of years and can be found in many ancient cultures. The ancient Egyptians believed that a person could harm another by simply looking at them with envy or jealousy. In Greece and Rome, there are many examples of images depicting people or animals with exaggerated eyes (such as this one). The belief also spread throughout Europe during this time period--and even into Asia!

The amulet's evil eye is a powerful symbol in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. In these cultures, it was believed that staring at someone for too long could cause them harm. The eye was used as a protective amulet against evil and curses directed at children, who were thought to be especially susceptible to harm from the evil eye.

Don't let anyone give you bad energy!

The evil eye is an ancient belief, dating back to the time of the Greeks and Romans. It's still around today, though people don't always know what it is or how to prevent it. The evil eye refers to a curse that someone can put on you by looking at you with envy or jealousy--or simply by saying something negative about you. The result? Bad luck! If someone gives you the evil eye, it will bring bad things into your life: illness, accidents and financial losses are all common consequences of being cursed with this powerful gaze. But there are ways to protect yourself against both curses and their consequences: wearing amulets like those illustrated above can help keep away any negative energy directed at us from others who may wish us harm (or simply don't like us).

Words from Bruce Taylor

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CONCLUSION

We hope this article has helped you to understand the origins of the evil eye, and how it has evolved. It's important to remember that there are many different versions of this story which vary depending on who you ask. However, one thing remains true: wearing an amulet can protect against evil spirits! So if you don't have one yet, maybe now is a good time to start looking into it...

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