The Eye Temple of Tell Brak: The Birthplace of the Protection Eye Symbol

👁️ A Glimpse into the Past

In the heart of ancient Syria, long before written history, there stood a city called Tell Brak. This was no ordinary city—it was one of the oldest urban centers in the world, a place where civilizations flourished and mysterious traditions were born. Among the ruins of Tell Brak lies something truly remarkable: a temple filled with thousands of small, eerie statues, all staring back at us with wide, unblinking eyes.

This is the Eye Temple, a place that may hold the earliest origins of the Protection Eye belief (also known by some as the Evil Eye)—a powerful symbol that spread across the Middle East, Turkey, and beyond.

🔍 The Discovery of the Eye Temple

In 1937, archaeologist Max Mallowan and his team uncovered an unusual structure while excavating Tell Brak. Inside, they found thousands of small figurines carved from alabaster, each featuring one or more pairs of huge, staring eyes.

Mallowan named this site the ‘Eye Temple’, as these strange idols seemed to have been left there as offerings. But what did they represent?

🌀 Historians believe these idols symbolized deities or spirits that watched over the people of Tell Brak, offering protection from unseen forces. Some researchers suggest that certain idols represented entire temples or gods, such as:

• Asherah – The Mother Goddess

• ʼĒl – The Father God

Beyond their religious purpose, these statues may have sparked one of the most enduring superstitions in human history: the belief in the Protection Eye.

🌍 From Tell Brak to Turkey: The Spread of the Protection Eye

The idea of the Protection Eye is simple: someone's jealous or negative gaze can bring bad luck, sickness, or misfortune.

💠 It’s a belief that still exists today, especially in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cultures. But how did it spread?

Over thousands of years, people from Tell Brak traveled, traded, and carried their customs with them. As they moved across Mesopotamia, Anatolia, and the Levant, their symbols and beliefs blended with local traditions.

👁️ The Protection Eye amulet eventually made its way to what is now Turkey, where it became the famous blue-and-white glass Nazar amulet we see today.

From Turkey, the belief spread further into Greece, Egypt, and even parts of Europe. The idea remained the same:

If someone looked at you with envy, they could bring bad luck. To protect yourself, you needed an amulet—something that could "watch" over you, just like the ancient Eye Idols of Tell Brak.

🔮 Why the Protection Eye Still Matters Today

Even after thousands of years, people still believe in the power of the Protection Eye. You’ll find it:

✔️ Hanging above doors ✔️ Worn as jewelry ✔️ Stitched into clothing ✔️ Used in home décor

At Soumak Boutique, we embrace this ancient tradition, offering handcrafted Protection Eye talismans that carry the spirit of protection and history.

If you’ve ever wondered why the Protection Eye remains such a strong symbol, remember: it all started in an ancient temple in Syria, where thousands of watchful eyes were left behind to guard and protect.

Just like those ancient people, we still seek protection, love, and good fortune in the symbols we wear and cherish.