Evil Eyes

Belief in the evil eye dates all the way back to at least Ancient Ugarit, as it is attested to in texts from this city (ruins in modern-day Syria). Given that the city was destroyed circa 1180 BC, during the late Bronze Age collapse to never be rebuilt, the belief dates back at least to this point, and likely earlier. Later in Greek Classical antiquity, it is referenced by Hesiod, Callimachus, Plato, Diodorus Siculus, Theocritus, Plutarch, Heliodorus, Pliny the Elder, and Aulus Gellius. Peter Walcot's Envy and the Greeks (1978) listed more than one hundred works by these and other authors mentioning the evil eye. Noting that Greeks are an ethnic group indigenous to Greece and the Levant, artifacts can be found in this region.

Kylix eye cup (530–520 BC), inscribed with Chalcidian text. It features an eye motif, to ward off the evil eye. Classical authors attempted both to describe and explain the function of the evil eye. Plutarch in his work entitled Symposium has a separate chapter describing such beliefs. In his scientific explanation, he stated that the eyes were the chief, if not sole, source of the deadly rays that were supposed to spring up like poisoned darts from the inner recesses of a person possessing the evil eye. Everywhere in NCY, these blue beads locally known as Nazar Boncukare hung in homes, cars, shops, and restaurants, used as an accessory in jewellery fashion and even embedded into walls and arches.

The humble beads play an important function for Cypriots as they ward off and protect the owner from “evil eyes”, bad luck, or sickness. In fact, this tradition dates from pre-Christian times, when people believed that a look of hate from one person to another could bring about illness, bad luck, or even death. Not just hatred, jealousy, or even extreme affection can also be the cause of any potential adverse experiences. The blue evil eye beads are made from glass, and should also contain iron, copper, water, and salt, a more resistant ingredient against evil! Do not underestimate the protective powers of these gems – pick one up on your next visit to NCY, you never know when you might need it. You will almost find one in every jeweller or gift shop, and ironically these make for very ‘eye-catching’ souvenirs!