Warding Off the Evil Eye: Ancient Greek & Roman Symbols That Still Pack a Punch

Last Updated on April 24, 2025 by Avia

As a veteran symbol-seeker who’s spent more time decoding ancient amulets than most spend picking out socks, I think about all sorts of esoteric signs and symbols. Lucky for you, I take all this research and musings, write about them, and then share them here on my website so you can (hopefully) enjoy some of the insights I’m pondering. The idea of warding off the evil eye is not new to my pontifications, but a few years ago, I did some research on Greek and Roman practices specifically designed to combat the effects of the evil eye. After rummaging through “Old Blue” (my beat-up, circa 1970s blue metal filing cabinet that holds a treasure trove of research), I stumbled upon these old notes and decided to craft an article about warding off the evil eye with ancient Greek & Roman symbols. If that sounds like something that jingles your bells, by all means, keep reading!

Throwing Shade (the ancient way)

Have you ever felt someone’s stare linger a little too long, like their gaze carried something sticky, unsettling, maybe even… unlucky? You wouldn’t be the first.

Long before social media gave us side-eyes and subtweets, the ancient Greeks and Romans were already hep to a powerful force they called the evil eye – a look so loaded with envy it could wilt crops, ruin reputations, or sink ships (yes, really). But don’t worry. The ancients came up with solutions, and they were as bold and brilliant as the myths themselves.

From silver amulets to defiant hand gestures, the ancients fought back with symbols that still shimmer with mystique today.

The Evil Eye: What Was It, and Why Did It Freak Out the Ancients?

Let’s set the scene: You’re in ancient Rome. You’ve got a decent life…maybe a couple of goats, a fig tree, a nice tunic. And then your neighbor gives you that look. You know the one. Intense. Unblinking. Suspiciously jealous. Suddenly, your goat goes missing, your tree withers, and your tunic mysteriously catches fire (okay, maybe not the fire part…but you get the drift).

That, my friend, is the evil eye.

In ancient Greco-Roman culture, the evil eye…malocchio in Italian or baskania in Greek…was no joke. It was believed to be a look powered by envy, capable of cursing your crops, wilting your love life, and bringing about mysterious misfortunes. It wasn’t just petty gossip…it was considered a metaphysical attack. And to survive it, our classical ancestors got creative. Really creative.

Enter the symbols and gestures.

From lurid hand signs to silver-laced lucky charms, ancient people stocked an arsenal of visual weapons designed to deflect, distract, or spook away the evil eye. 

Today, we might see these as superstitious behaviors, but back in the day, this was psychological armor. And honestly, they’re still fascinating, powerful, and in many cases, surprisingly stylish.

Let’s look at three of the juiciest and most enduring anti-evil eye symbols from the Greco-Roman world.

Mono Fico: The Fig Hand That Fights Back

Ever made a fist and poked your thumb between your index and middle fingers? Congratulations…you’ve just flipped the ancient equivalent of a magical bird (as in, flipping the bird).

The Mono Fico (or “fig hand”) is more than just a naughty gesture. In Roman times, it was a bold, bawdy symbol of life, sex, and fertility. The “fig” (from the Italian “fica,” slang for female anatomy) was sacred to Bacchus, the god of wine, revelry, and, let’s say, enthusiasm.

The idea was this: the evil eye, being a joyless, sterile force, would be utterly repelled by the life-affirming energy of sexual union. Or maybe it was just too distracted by the rudeness of the gesture to bother cursing anyone. Either way, Etruscan and Roman folks wore it as amulets, flashed it as a hand sign, and kept it in the home to guard against jealous glances.

Reflective question about the Mono Fico:
Where in your life could you stand to assert boldness, playfulness, or defiance against judgment? The fig hand invites you to laugh in the face of fear…and live loudly.

Cimaruta: The Silver Sprig with Serious Power

If the Mono Fico is the middle-school rebel of the bunch, the Cimaruta is the wise grandmother wearing a silver amulet that doubles as a protective spell.

Meaning “sprig of rue,” the Cimaruta was worn in ancient Italy as a complex charm against dark magic, envy, and (you guessed it) the evil eye. Rue itself was a sacred plant, believed to dispel negative energy and ward off curses. But this wasn’t just a leafy twig. The amulet version was silver, ornate, and bursting with layered symbolism.

Picture it (in my best Sophia Petrillo voice): three branching stems representing the Triple Goddess…Maiden, Mother, and Crone. Dangling from those stems? Tiny protective icons like…

Keys (for unlocking hidden knowledge)
Crescent moons (for divine protection)
Flowers (for growth)
Hands (for shielding)
Rooster (for alarming one of evil)
Weapons (for obvious protective reasons)
Fish (for abundance and fertility)

While the Cimaruta has ties to modern Italian witchcraft, it’s rooted in ancient Etruscan and Roman traditions…and yes, they even hung these over baby cribs to keep infants safe from evil intentions.

Reflective question abou tthe Cimaruta:
Which of your personal beliefs, symbols, or rituals help protect your energy? The Cimaruta reminds us to choose our spiritual tools with care and to decorate our lives with meaning.

Mano Cornuta: The Horned Hand with Bite

You might recognize the Mano Cornuta as the legendary “rock on!” sign…but way before heavy metal got a hold of it, the ancients were flashing horns to ward off wickedness.

The origins of this symbol are foggy…some say it mimics animal horns, a primal image of strength; others suggest it pokes metaphorical fingers into the eyes of evil. Either way, it’s potent. In Roman and Italian traditions, horns were lunar symbols connected to goddess worship and the natural cycles of power, fertility, and intuition.

So while modern culture may have co-opted it for concerts and counterculture, the original horned hand was a kind of mystical judo move…deflecting envy and psychic attacks by invoking something primal and untouchable.

Reflectic question about the Mano Cornuta:
What personal power do you call on when you feel “attacked” by negativity? The Mano Cornuta is a reminder to embrace your inner wildness as your shield.

Does the Evil Eye Actually Work? And What About the Symbols That Fight It?

Let’s get philosophical for a moment (because when you’re writing about amulets and ancient curses, you kind of have to). People always ask me: “Do you actually believe in the evil eye?” 

And here’s my honest answer…

Belief is the currency of the esoteric world. It’s not about blind faith…it’s about energy, focus, and intention.

The evil eye is less about one look cursing your life, and more about the power of directed thought. When someone shoots envy your way…whether consciously or not…that energy can cling. It can wear on your confidence, crack open a vulnerability, or start that weird string of bad luck you can’t quite explain.

But just as energy can wound, it can also protect. That’s where symbols come in. From the fig hand to the horned gesture to the silver sprig of rue…these objects are more than metal or motion. They’re containers of meaning. They act as psychological and spiritual boundary-setters, telling both your conscious mind and the universe: “I’m shielded. I’m centered. Your envy has no power here.”

So are they legitimate? Yes, if you understand that their efficacy lives in your relationship with them. Symbols don’t protect you like umbrellas block rain. They protect you like a mantra or a ritual: by shifting your energy, intention, and sense of personal sovereignty.

Here’s my take: the evil eye is real enough to ruin your day, if you let it. And the talismans we use to repel it? They’re as powerful as the energy and belief you assign to them. And honestly, that makes them more magical, not less.

Conclusion: The Evil Eye Is in the Eye of the Beholder

The ancients understood something about warding off the evil eye we often forget: symbols matter because we make them matter. Whether it’s a hand gesture, a silver sprig, or a horned charm, these objects become powerful because we pour our energy, attention, and intention into them.

The evil eye (real or imagined) is a mirror of fear and envy. But the counter-charms we’ve explored are mirrors, too. They reflect confidence, fertility, humor, and sacred defiance.

So, whether you wear your protection on a chain or carry it in your heart, remember this: no symbol has power unless you give it meaning. Choose wisely. Live consciously. And if someone throws you the stink-eye, flash a fig hand and carry on.

Mighty brightly,

© Copyrighted. All Rights Reserved.

Amp Up Your Luck With These Lucky Charm Amazon Selections

FAQs About Warding Off the Evil Eye

Hopefully, I’ve done a fairly decent job at breaking down the concept of warding off the evil eye with Greek and Roman symbols, but because it’s such vast territory, there are bound to be questions. Here are a few FAQs to round out your education:

Go the Distance & Unveil More Mythology With These Amazon Selections