Nazar (amulet)

Nazar amulets are in some oriental countries spread blue, eye-shaped amulets, which are to avert the evil look according to popular belief. The term originally comes from the Arabic expression Nazar / نظر / Nazar, which is, inter alia, to consider, look, insight. In Turkish nazar referred Boncuğu Nazar amulet or literally the view - pearl, also used the terms mavi boncuk ( Blue Pearl ), of which also the English term derives mojo or göz Boncuğu (eye bead).

In popular belief people have with light blue eyes the sinister look. One also " Blue Eye " is therefore as counter-spell and banish away that look.

Happy to be attached Nazar beads against the evil eye young children at the clothes hanging everywhere as an amulet on the interior rearview mirror of the many taxis and trucks, or serve as an ornament on a keyring. However, they can be found as well on the front door to stables. Is an "eye " broken, so it obviously has done his job and averted an evil eye - and is quickly replaced by a new one.

A Nazar amulet is usually made ​​of colored glass. It often has a teardrop shape. Smaller specimens look more like beads and larger as flat disks. The characteristic feature of the Nazar amulet its colors are: From the inside to the outside concentric circles similar to the iris of an eye in shades of dark blue, light blue, white and dark blue. It is therefore often called the "Blue Eye". Another name is " Eye of Fatima ", named after the youngest daughter of the Prophet Mohammed. In the Middle East and North Africa, the defense character Hand of Fatima is often combined with a Nazar.

Nazar beads come in all sizes and designs of a pin's head to plate sizes to buy in the bazaars and souvenir shops. It is commonly worn in the small form as jewelry on the body or in the larger version clearly visible against a wall ( in preference to an input or a door ) hung to clearly confront the " evil." Its counterpart - the "evil eye" - however, is not for sale on purchase.