20/09/2024
The Greek evil eye: Mati 🧿
The evil eye, known as “mati” (μάτι) in Greek culture, is a curse thought to be given by a malicious glare that can cause bad luck or loss.
From as far back as 3,000 BC people have believed that a person can harm other people, animals or even inanimate objects by sending off negative energy. This is often a result of envy, jealousy or other negative feelings.
To avoid this look, people began wearing amulets or jewellery with the evil eye symbol incorporated into them. If you wore this, the evil look would be reflected back to the person that was casting it.
An evil eye is a talisman or amulet, designed in the shape of an eye, traditionally in the colours blue or green, that indicate spiritual protection. These talismans or evil eye “repellents” come in different shapes and forms as pendants, bracelets, earrings and rings. Or can be hanging in a glass bead form over the main door or entrance of someone’s home to keep the hearth protected.
We have a few evil eyes dotted around Villa Xanthe, just in case 🙂
