the evil eye Flashcards
what is the evil eye linked to?
precarious economic conditions, “limited good” worldview, egalitarianism, fear of envy
characteristics of evil eye belief complex
harm through gaze, certain individuals believed to be able to harm others by looking at them (may be voluntary or involuntary), harm through praising, admiring
culturally specific factors related to evil eye
blue eyes, being unmarried (priest or spinster), having physical disability
what type of harm is done by evil eye?
sickness or affliction, infertility, impotence, shrivelling up/lack of water or wetness, bad luck
who or what is vulnerable to evil eye?
infants and small children, young livestock, new/nursing mothers, new brides, new objects that suggest prosperity
amulets/charms that protect against evil eye
standard eye design (can be different colours), hand amulets, the Mano fica, horned hand, phallic charms, also frogs sometimes (often frogs connected with #13), rue cimaruta charm
herbs that repel the evil eye
rue plant, garlic (let it go to the garlic)
actions that prevent the evil eye
spitting (or pretending to), touching the thing being praised, touching ones genitals (men), reciting a charm or verse (sin ojo, mashallah), reciting a blessing along with praise (may god bless him/her/it/you), concealing /disguising/denying wealth and good fortune
how to cure the evil eye
drop oil, wheat, or lead in water, interpret the results (see if smth forms, see if it sinks or floats, interpret the shape), rub an egg over effected person (or break egg into water and interpret shape). there are many possible cures! (Like Pina curing Augisto of the evil eye)
understanding the evil eye belief complex
envy is a crucial component, the evil eye=the envious eye, and the evil eye belief represents fear of others envy, jealousy
what is the Mano fica
a fist gesture with the thumb between first and second finger. symbolizes coitus (which leads to reproduction and fertility, opposite of evil eye)
what is the horned hand
🤘(kind of like this). it is also a fertility symbol representing a head of a male horned animal, and symbol of horniness. You wound make this symbol behind your back– pointing the horns at someone means their partner is cheating on them because they’re ugly (LOL)
details about the rue plant
native to middle east but has spread thru mediterranean. It is an irritant which is why people often get metal representations of it instead. The tip of the rue is called the cimaruta.
where do evil eye beliefs occur
small face to face communities where social tensions run high, egalitarian communities where greed, jealousy, resentment, and conspicuous display disrupt social relations. checks the greed of people who have more
“limited good” worldview characteristics
characteristic of precarious economies where good is limited. if you have goodies, you are depriving someone else. the poor are a threat to those who have plenty
” limited good” worldview was a term coined by whom and when?
anthropologist George Foster in the 1960s
why is the evil eye associated so closely with wetness and/or dryness?
because water=life, especially with crops. Fertility also associated with wetness, ex. breast milk or semen. if increase of liquid is good, decrease must be bad.
