Turkish Evil Eye Meaning: The Nazar Boncuğu and Its History

The nazar boncuğu is the blue glass eye bead seen everywhere in Türkiye: pinned to babies' clothes, hung in homes, shops and cars, and worn as jewellery. Nazar comes from the Arabic for "look" or "gaze", and the bead answers an old belief that an envious or admiring look can cause harm.

The evil eye

The belief in the evil eye, that a glance charged with envy can bring misfortune, is found across the Mediterranean and the Middle East and is far older than Islam or Christianity. The nazar boncuğu works by looking back: the eye on the bead meets the harmful gaze. In Turkish custom a bead that cracks is said to have done its job, and it is replaced.

The glassmakers of İzmir

The traditional beads are still made by hand near İzmir. According to the Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism, craftsmen in the villages of Görece and Nazarköy melt coloured glass in wood-fired kilns and shape each bead on iron rods. Nazarköy, formerly Kurudere, was officially renamed in 2007 because of its bead-making. Türkiye has also documented the craftsmanship, practices and beliefs of the nazar boncuğu in materials prepared for UNESCO's intangible heritage programme.

Blue, white and dark blue

The classic bead has concentric circles of dark blue, white, light blue and black, the colours of an eye. The deep blue comes from cobalt glass.

The evil eye in jewellery

The nazar boncuğu is one of the most natural amulets to wear: it was made to be carried close. It is given at births, weddings and new beginnings as a sign of care. You can see the AURYN Turkish evil eye charm, or read about the hamsa, its companion across the Middle East.