The Malevolent Eye: An Essay on the Evil Eye, Fertility, and the Concept of ManaThe Evil Eye is one of the most wide-ranging systems of beliefs in the world and in history. It is more widespread than the belief in one God. Yet it is misunderstood and remains rather puzzling and mysterious. An explanation of its origins is given here by focusing on the meaning of the eye-as-symbol rather than on defining the Evil Eye as a problem of vision and gaze. As symbol, it is presumed to have its roots in pervasive fertility rituals dating back to prehistory. The very idea of fertility is the beginning and the end of survival in all subsistence societies. This pervasive obsession with production and reproduction, not only characterized prehistory and the preindustrial world, but has persisted with important modifications, into the world of money markets, while at the same time retaining the ancient symbols. The eye is one such symbol. |
Contents
The Evil | 3 |
The Evil Eye Among the Jews | 17 |
The Evil Eye in Literature and Scholarship | 23 |
Copyright | |
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Africa amulets ancient apotropaic associated belief breasts carvings Çatal Hüyük Celtic century Chapter Charrière childbirth Christian church coitus concept considered context cowrie crowning cult cultural dance Dictionnaire Dulaure Dundes E. A. Wallis Budge edition effigies Elworthy envy Europe Evil Eye fact fecundity female fertility symbols figure figurine finger Folklore France French genitals gesture Gimbutas goddess Gorgon Greece Greek grimace heart horn identified images India individuals interpretation John kteic saints kteic symbol kteis ktenes Latin Lee Alexander Lepenski Vir Line drawing luck male mana Marija Gimbutas Marshack meaning medieval menhirs Middle Ages nature origin oval pagan Paris Parturient Woman symbol peasants penis phallic saints phallic symbols phallos photograph posture Primitive probably production and reproduction protection published refer Religion represent representation rituals Roman Romanesque says sexual sheela-na-gigs sheelas sistrum societies Songs symbol of fertility temples term triad vulva women word worship York