The evil eye is a curse or legend prevalent in many cultures around the world. It involves inflicting harm or bad luck on someone by means of a malevolent look or stare. The concept is thought to have originated in ancient Greece and Rome and persists today across parts of the Mediterranean, Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. But what does the evil eye actually look like? More specifically, what color is it believed to be?
What Is the Evil Eye?
The evil eye is a supernatural concept that involves inflicting harm simply through a gaze or stare. The belief is that people can cause bad things to happen to someone else out of feelings like envy, jealousy, resentment, or disgust. Certain individuals are thought to possess an evil eye, where their look has the power to unintentionally cause injury, disease, or unluckiness.
This belief likely arose from the sense that people sometimes feel when they are being watched or stared at intensely. The evil eye concept has existed for millennia, dating back to ancient Greece and Rome. It is mentioned in various Greek and Roman texts, such as Plutarch’s Symposiac Questions from the 1st century AD. Belief in the evil eye remains widespread today in countries around the Mediterranean Sea, including Turkey, Greece, Albania, Armenia, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Morocco. The concept has also spread to regions in Latin America, South Asia, Central Asia, and Europe.
What Does the Evil Eye Look Like?
Given how common and long-standing the belief in the evil eye is, there are many interpretations of what an evil eye actually looks like. However, the predominant depiction worldwide is of an eye that is blue in color. More specifically, it is often shown as a single eye with an iris that is light blue, light grey, or another pale shade of blue.
This characteristic blue hue has led to the evil eye often being referred to as the “blue evil eye” in many cultures. For instance, in Spanish it is commonly called “mal de ojo” meaning evil eye, but also referred to as “ojo azul” meaning blue eye. In Italian it is called “malocchio” or evil eye, but also “l’occhio azzurro” meaning blue eye. In Turkish it is known as “nazar boncuğu” or nazar bead, with “nazar” referring to the evil eye curse and “boncuğu” meaning blue bead.
So where does this prevalent blue color come from? There are a few major theories and explanations:
Symbolism of the Blue Eye
Blue is widely considered to be a protective and positive color in many cultures. It symbolizes things like spirituality, heaven, truth, tranquility, devotion, and fertility. Therefore, the blue evil eye serves as a defense against the curse of the true evil eye. The blue eye fights fire with fire, combatting the power of the malevolent gaze with the power of blue’s positive energy and symbolism.
Warding Off Evil Spirits
Some believe that the blue evil eye originated as a ward against evil spirits and curses. Blue is thought to distract envious spirits and ward off the jealousy of others. A blue eye may have been used to reflect the evil intent back onto the source of harm.
Alluding to Blindness
Blue eyes are rare in many parts of the world, especially in the Middle East and Mediterranean regions where belief in the evil eye is most concentrated. It has been proposed that the blue color was chosen because it alluded to blindness. A “blindness” inflicted upon the malicious gaze to render it powerless.
Healing Properties of Blue
Blue has historically been associated with healing powers in many cultures. Egyptians used blue eye makeup, like kohl, for medicinal and protective purposes. The blue evil eye may have developed as a healing symbol to counteract sickness brought about by curses or envious looks.
How is the Blue Evil Eye Used?
The blue evil eye is commonly depicted in pendants, charms, amulets, bracelets, and other jewelry pieces that are worn or kept in the home. It is also painted or hung on walls, vehicles, door entrances, and other places to repel harm.
The most traditional medium is an eye-shaped glass or plastic bead or stone referred to as an “evil eye stone” or “nazar”. These beads often have a blue iris and black pupil, while the rest of the eye is white. Sometimes additional decorative patterns are added in different colors. These beads are worn as necklaces, bracelets, hung on rearview mirrors, attached to clothing, and more.
The blue evil eye is especially prevalent around newborn babies and children. Parents will often have their kids wear evil eye bracelets and necklaces for protection against illness, injury, and bad luck. Adults may wear evil eye jewelry for similar reasons. The blue eye is also sometimes painted onto or shaped into dishes, bowls, vases, jugs, sailing boats, and even animal figures.
What Are Some Examples of the Blue Evil Eye Around the World?
Here is a look at how different cultures interpret and use the iconic blue evil eye symbol:
Turkey
In Turkey, the nazar boncuğu is one of the most common symbols seen anywhere. The talisman is called a nazar for short, and it protects against the evil eye curse which Turks call “kem göz” meaning evil gander. The Turkish evil eye often has additional swirling patterns in dark blue, white, and navy designs. They are painted on or hung in homes, offices, cars, and more.
Greece
In Greece the evil eye is called “matiasma” and blue eye charms are referred to as “mati”. Greek evil eyes often show a lighter blue color and simplified design. They frequently omit the pupil for a solid blue circular shape. Greek eye charms are common gifts for new babies.
Egypt
The Egyptian eye or Eye of Horus has some overlap with the evil eye. It represents healing, protection, and good health. The Eye of Horus is colored with blue eyeliner, symbolizing the Nile river and life. Egyptians often wear this symbol in gold jewelry and stamps.
Morocco
In Morocco, the Berber Hand of Fatima symbol is very similar to the evil eye. It has an open eye at the center of the palm to ward off harm. Moroccan evil eyes are usually light blue with additional berber tribal motifs in darker navy blue. They are painted everywhere from street signs to teacups.
Mexico
In Mexico and Mexican culture, the ojo de venado charm translates to deer eye, because it resembles the eye of a deer. However these amulets with light blue and white designs also represent the traditional evil eye. They are common souvenirs and believed to grant protection.
India
In India, the concept of the evil eye is prominent in Hinduism, called “buri nazar” meaning bad gaze. However, evil eye charms and amulets often use brighter shades like turquoise blue or royal blue, sometimes with additional materials like coral and gold. The evil eye also appears on Indian trucks, rickshaws, and taxis for protection.
What Are Other Colors of the Evil Eye and Their Meanings?
While blue is by far the most common evil eye color, other colors do appear and also have symbolic meaning:
Yellow
Yellow or golden evil eyes are sometimes seen in Arabic countries. They symbolize power and ferocity, possibly attempting to fight fire with fire by combating the evil eye with a fierce gaze of its own.
Red
Red or orange evil eyes are thought to be aggressive eyes gazing back at the source of malice. They may appear on amulets or as decoration in homes.
Green
Green evil eyes are less common. But green is sometimes associated with the corrupting power of envy and greed in the evil eye.
Black
Black evil eyes may demonstrate darker or boosted protective powers. Black absorbs light and wards off the evil eye rather than reflecting it back.
Multicolored
Some evil eye symbols show an iris that combines colors, like blue and green. This may be for aesthetic purposes or to combine different symbolic meanings.
Conclusion
The predominant depiction of the evil eye across history and cultures is a single blue eye. The light blue color carries positive meanings of spirituality, healing, and truth. It serves as a defensive force against harm and illness brought on by the envious gaze. While alternative colors appear around the world, blue remains the quintessential shade of the evil eye due to these deeply rooted associations. Next time you spot an evil eye symbol, you can bet on seeing some variation of the classic blue, whether it’s a bead, charm, amulet, or painting. This tint has come to universally represent the ancient legend.