Origins of the Evil Eye Superstition

A kabbalistic amulet to ward off the evil eye

The evil eye is a classical folk belief that originated in Mediterranean cultures and spread throughout the ancient world in the Hellenistic period. The evil eye is understood as a type of curse cast on a person out of jealousy.

Early Sources

The evil eye (Hebrew: "ayin ha-ra") figures prominently in Jewish literature, in particular the Talmud and Kabbalistic works. The concept appears in other Mesopotamian and later Greco-Roman sources as well. It was spread throughout the ancient world in the Hellenistic period.

Reasoning Behind the Practice

The evil eye is aroused by jealousy. Traditional folk practices advocate minimizing ostentation to avoid drawing attention to one's wealth or privilege, and attracting an evil eye.

Amulets

Amulets, including the hand-shaped hamsa and the red thread tied around the wrist, are widely used today.

References

• Chabad: Do You Believe in the "Evil Eye?"
• Association for Psychological Science: Want to Ward Off the Evil Eye? Just be Nice, a New Study Says
• Samarpan: The Meaning of the Greek Evil Eye