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Apotropaic magic facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Nazar boncuğu tailfin
The ancient blue and white "Nazar boncuğu" is a symbol against the evil eye. Here the stylised eye appears on a Turkish airplane

Apotropaism or apotropaic magic is the use of magic rituals against evil or harmful influences like the evil eye or invidia, which was thought to cause injury or bad luck. This can be a long ritual, or it can take the form of simply wearing an amulet or other token, against bad luck.

Images for kids

  • Egyptian - Magic Wand Depicting a Procession of Deities - Walters 71510

    An ancient Egyptian apotropaic wand shows a procession of protective deities. It was used in birth rituals, perhaps to draw a magic circle around the mother and child.

  • Gorgon at the Corfu Archaelogical Museum

    Chalcidian black-figured eye-cup, circa 530 BCE. Staatliche Antikensammlungen

  • Kilpeck Sheelagh na Gig

    A 12th-century sheela na gig on the church at Kilpeck, Herefordshire

  • Dacian apotropaic eyes motif Iron Gate helmet

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

  • Apotropaic pentagram at Niemala

    Apotropaic marking, Niemelä Tenant Farm, now at Seurasaari Open Air Museum, Finland

  • Itsukushima charms

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

  • Votive tree cappadocia

    A tree covered with nazars against the evil eye

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Apotropaic magic Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.