The lovely crystal blue eye charm known as the nazar boncuğu is by far the most popular good luck amulet in Turkey and is part of the Bodrum logo. These amulets can be found everywhere and are commonly sold in tourist shops as a small souvenir. They are believed to ward off the evil eye and their name is derived from the Arabic word for ‘sight’.
The amulets are traditionally made by hand from glass even today, following millennia old practices handed down from one generation to the next. Normally the charms are dark blue and either round or shaped like translucent teardrops. The pattern is of concentric circles intended to create the effect of a white or light blue eye in the center. Sometimes gold tones also feature, and in Turkey a yellow center is quite common. This motif is extremely popular in jewelry but can also frequently be spotted hanging from car rear view mirrors, in homes, or profusely decorating the branches of trees.
The concept of the evil eye dates back thousands of years. It was first recorded in Mesopotamia, but undoubtedly is far older than that, going back as far as humans have given each other dirty looks or wished harm upon one another.
Envy at one’s good fortune is thought to be one of the primary causes of evil eye, the belief is that too much praise or too many compliments can cause negative feelings, intentional or otherwise, to be directed at the recipients. The eye in the amulet looks right back at the onlooker, reflecting the negative thoughts harmlessly.
In Turkey the tradition is that if the amulet is found cracked, it is because it has served its purpose and been used up protecting the wearer from the negative energy thrown at them. A new amulet must them be worn to regain protection.
