Apotropaic magic

The ancient blue and white Nazar boncuğu symbol, a stylised eye thought to avert evil, appears on this contemporary airplane

Apotropaic magic (from Greek apotrepein, to ward off : apo-, away + trepein, to turn) is a type of magic intended to "turn away" harm or evil influences, as in deflecting misfortune or averting the evil eye. "Apotropaic" observances may also be practiced out of vague superstition or out of tradition, as in good luck charm (perhaps some token on a charm bracelet), amulets, or gestures such as fingers crossed or knocking on wood. The Greeks made offerings to the Averting Gods, (Ἀποτρόπαιοι θεοί: Apotropaioi Theoi), chthonic deities and heroes who grant safety and deflect evil.

Apotropaic symbols

The Gorgon, flanked by lionesses and showing her belt clasp of serpents, as depicted at the west pediment of the 580 B.C. temple of Artemis in Corfu on display at the Archaeological Museum of Corfu

Among the Ancient Greeks the most widely-used image intended to avert evil was that of the Gorgon, the head of which now may be called the Gorgoneion, which features wild eyes, fangs, and protruding tongue. The full figure of the Gorgon holds the apex of the oldest remaining Greek temple where she is flanked by two lionesses. The Gorgon head was mounted on the aegis and shield of Athena.

Eyes were often painted to ward off the evil eye. An exaggerated apotropaic eye was painted on Greek drinking vessels in the 6th century BC to ward off evil spirits while drinking. Fishing boats in some parts of the Mediterranean region still have stylised eyes painted on the bows. A Turkish budget airline has adopted the symbol (known as Nazar boncuğu or Nazar bonjuk) as a motif for the vertical stabilizer of its aeroplanes. The Yiddish expression, Kain ein horeh (קיין עין הרע) is apotropaic in nature, and literally translates to "no evil eye," somewhat equivalent to the expression, "Knock on wood."

A 12th-century Sheela na Gig on the church at Kilpeck, Herefordshire

People believed that the doorways and windows of buildings were particularly vulnerable to the entry or passage of evil. On churches and castles, gargoyles or other grotesque faces and figures such as sheela na gigs and Hunky Punks were carved to frighten away witches and other malign influences. Figures may also have been carved at fireplaces or chimneys; in some cases, simple geometric or letter carvings were used for these. When a wooden post was used to support a chimney opening, this was often an easier material for amateur carving. To discourage witchcraft, rowan wood may have been chosen for the post or mantel.

Similarly the grotesque faces carved into pumpkin lanterns (and their earlier counterparts, made from turnips, swedes or beets) at Halloween are meant to avert evil: this season was Samhain, the Celtic new year. As a "time between times", it was believed to be a period when souls of the dead and other dangerous spirits walked the earth. Many European peoples had such associations with the period following the harvest in the fall. (See also: Celtic calendar)

Mirrors and other shiny objects were believed to deflect the evil eye. Traditional English "Plough Jags" (performers of a regional variant of the mummers play) sometimes decorated their costumes (particularly their hats) with shiny items, to the extent of borrowing silver plate for the purpose. "Witch balls" are shiny blown glass ornaments, like Christmas baubles, that were hung in windows.

Items and symbols such as crucifixes, silver bullets, wild roses and garlic were believed to ward off or destroy vampires.

In Ireland and Great Britain, magpies are traditionally thought to bring bad luck. Many people repeated various rhymes or salutations to placate them.

Geto-Dacian apotropaic eyes motif on the Helmet of Iron Gates (4th century BC)

In Ancient Greece, phalli were believed to have apotropaic qualities. Often stone reliefs would be placed above doorways, and three-dimensional versions were erected across the Greek world. Most notable of these were the urban monuments found on the island of Delos. Grotesque, satyr-like beaded faces, sometimes with the pointed cap of the workman, were carved over the doors of ovens and kilns, to protect the work from fire and mishap.

A similar use of phallic representations to ward off the evil eye remains popular in modern Bhutan; it is associated with the 500-year-old Buddhist tradition of Drukpa Kunley. It is paralleled by other south Asian uses of the lingam symbol.

In Roman art, apotropaic imagery was a common theme. Envy was thought to bring bad luck to the person envied. To avoid envy, Romans sought to incite laughter in their guests by using apotropaic images. Images such as large phalluses (see fascinum), deformities like hunchbacks, or non-Roman subjects such as pygmies and black Africans were common. Romans saw deformity as funny and believed that such images could be used to deflect the evil eye.

Some scholars argue that in modern times, the use of the phrase, "no copyright intended," or "no copyright infringement intended," functions as apotropaic magic to ward off ContentID. This automates the detection of content that infringes copyright, or other negative influences from uploaded YouTube videos.

Good luck tokens and charms

Amulets for specific purposes on sale at a Shinto shrine in Japan

It is difficult to differentiate between items supposed to avert evil and items intended to attract good fortune.

A cast-off horseshoe was often nailed up over, or close by, doorways, normally with the ends pointing upwards; it is said to collect good luck, or to stop the luck from falling out (see Oakham's horseshoes). Model horseshoes (of card or plastic) are given as good-luck tokens, particularly at weddings, and small paper horseshoes feature in confetti.^{[citation needed]} (Where does this take place?)

Irish travelling people and Roma often sell white heather to "bring good luck". (Sometimes white sea-lavender, a species of Limonium, is sold instead.)^{[citation needed]}

In Ireland, St Brigid's crosses, woven from rush, were kept indoors (in houses and animal houses) to keep away illness for the year.^{[citation needed]}

In some Native American cultures, a dreamcatcher made of yarn like a web is placed above a bed or sleeping area to protect sleeping children from nightmares.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Exorcism
• Gargoyle
• Gorgoneion
• Painted pebbles
• Pazuzu
• Peijainen
• Rosary
• Mezuzah
• Sheela na Gig
• Singa (mythology)

Further reading

• Frazer, Sir James, The Golden Bough,
• Graves, Robert, The White Goddess,
• Jane Ellen Harrison, Prolegomena to the Study of Greek Religion
• Roud, Steve (2004). A Pocket Guide to Superstitions of the British Isles. London: Penguin. ISBN 0-14-051549-6.

External links

• The Golden Bough: on-line text, 1922 abridged edition
• Sue Dewsbury, "Folk Plays - January 2004 - Coleby Plough Jag", photos of Mummers, Traditional Drama Research Group