Nazar

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
Top
Nazar ornaments
The nazar boncuğu symbol on an airplane
Nazar on baby-clothes is so popular in Turkey as it is believed that the baby who wears it will be protected from harm.
Inside a vehicle
Wristlet version

A nazar (Turkish: nazar boncuğu) is an eye-shaped amulet believed to protect against the evil eye ("evil eye", from nazar and "amulet" from boncuğu). The word "nazar" is derived from the Arabic نظر, "sight" or "seeing". In Central Asia, during the ages of Tengrism, people held similar superstitions like horseshoes, garlic, wolf's tooth, dried thorn, lead, stones; but the crystal blue eye has always been the most popular one.[1]

It is common in Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Armenia, Iran, Afghanistan, Greece, Cyprus and Azerbaijan. In Armenia, the nazar is often hung in homes, offices, cars, children's clothing, or incorporated in jewellery.[2]

A typical nazar is made of handmade glass featuring concentric circles or teardrop shapes in dark blue, white, light blue and black, occasionally with a yellow/gold edge.[3]

Other uses

The nazar image was used as a symbol on the tailfins of aeroplanes belonging to the private Turkish airline Fly Air. It is used in the logo for CryEngine 3, a game engine designed by Crytek, a video game company founded by three Turkish brothers.

See also

References

  1. ^ Langenscheidt's Pocket Turkish Dictionary.Langenscheidt, 1992, p. 638.
  2. ^ Lonely Planet Middle East.Lonely Planet; 6 edition, 2009, p. 559.
  3. ^ Lonely Planet Middle East.Lonely Planet; 6 edition, 2009, p. 559.



Post a question - any question - to the WikiAnswers community:

Copyrights:

Mentioned in

Nazarian (family name)
Nazar (family name)
Nazar Stodolya (1937 Historical Film)
Naqvi (family name)
Nazari (family name)