apotropaic eye

apotropaic eye
Painting of a large eye or eyes used to ward off evil.

The symbol appears most commonly on Greek drinking vessels from the 6th century BC and was perhaps thought to keep dangerous spirits from entering the mouth with the wine. It is also used in Turkish and Egyptian art.

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art
      a painting of an eye or eyes used as a symbol to ward off evil, appearing most commonly on Greek black-figured (black-figure pottery) drinking vessels called kylikes (“eye cups”), from the 6th century BC. The exaggeratedly large eye on these cups may have been thought to prevent dangerous spirits from entering the mouth with the wine.

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Universalium. 2010.

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