HORSESHOE AND EYES
Apotropaic charms that supply magical protection against the evil eye take different forms in
each culture whjere the belief is common. in Turkey and adjacent
areas of Greece, the evil eye it
usually conceived to be a blue eye, a relative rarity among
people of the region, most of whom have brown or dark hazel eyes.
Thus, in order to repel or ward off the effects evil eye, a reflective "eye" of blue
glass is used. This often takes the form of an all-seeing eye charm or a sphere or tear-drop studded with multiple eyes, which i call an eyes-all-over amulet.
Because the geographic region encompassing Turkey overlaps the
much larger areas of Europe and North Africa where the horseshoe is used as a protectant
against both the evil eye and
against witches, one finds in Turkey a culturally specific
combination charm i call the horseshoe-and-eyes.
As the wall-hangings shown here indicate, there are numerous ways
to combine a blue glass all-seeing
eye with a horseshoe.
The example above is made entirely of glass and is a piece
of fine workmanship, complete with an additional hanging eye at
the top which dangles from the blue ribbon.
The example at left is a bit cruder, but very bold in design: the
eye is a thick blob of glass, while the suspended metal horseshoe is daubed with
blue paint to represent an array of eyes. Hanging from the center of
the horseshoe is a small bunch
of grapes, cast in plastic. Because the evil eye is thought to adversely
affect male potency, female fertility, and the viability of
babies, the grapes -- an ancient symbol of fruitfulness -- ensure
that reproductive functions will be guarded.
Because the horseshoe itself derives from the
neolithic symbol of the vulva, both the added eye in the upper charm and the
grapes in the lower charm remind me of an
engorged clitoris. But then, i
do have an active imagination!
To order a Horseshoe-and-Eyes Charm from the Lucky Mojo Curio Co.
CLICK HERE
For representations of horseshoes in various lucky and protective contexts, see the following pages:
actual horseshoes, miniature horseshoe models, and horseshoe sculptures
actual horseshoe as a protective amulet
horseshoe in El Secreto de la Virtuoso Herradura
terra cotta blue-glazed horseshoe plaque
miniature horseshoe package amulets
protection spells from Adams County, Illinois
horseshoe jewelry, charms, and amulets
horseshoe charm on European charm bracelet
horseshoe charm in Mexican snow-globe pyramid of luck
horseshoe figures on North American good luck coins
horseshoe charms in South American charm vials
horseshoe-and-eyes blue glass charms from Turkey
horseshoes as printed images
horseshoe image on Double Fast Luck Soap
horseshoe image on Double Luck Foods
horseshoe image on hoodoo votive candles
horseshoe image on Lucky Brown cosmetics packaging
horseshoe image on Lucky Mon-Gol Curio Number XI
horseshoe image on swastika good luck postcard
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