Virtually every culture has a legend related to the evil eye. The eye symbol is so deeply embedded in culture that, in spite of its potentially pagan connotations, it even finds a place within religious texts, including the Bible and the Quran.
Often dubbed as 'mal de ojo' or 'the evil eye', this ocular amulet is actually the charm meant to ward off the true evil eye: a curse transmitted through a malicious glare, usually inspired by envy.
There’s a key distinction between the evil eye, which is a curse, and the eye amulet, which dispels the curse.
The eye amulet, often referred to as a nazar, has existed in variations for thousands of years.
With such a widespread belief that an evil stare held the power to inflict catastrophic misfortune, it’s no surprise that the people of ancient civilizations sought out a means to repel the curse.
In the last decade, evil eye imagery has frequently appeared in the world of fashion, and popularized by musicians, actors, and other people who've acquired success on the world stage. Though all this attention would suggest the evil eye is seeing a sudden surge in popularity, the truth is that for thousands of years the symbol has maintained its steady hold on the human imagination.