In Turkish and wider Mediterranean superstition, a nazar amulet is believed to protect against the evil eye.
The nazar is usually a circular blue-and-white bead marked with concentric rings that resemble an eye. It is displayed in homes, shops, vehicles and jewellery, and is also given to babies or newly established businesses as a protective charm.
The evil eye is a widespread belief that envy or an envious gaze can cause misfortune. The amulet is therefore understood as a countermeasure, not merely as decoration. In Turkey, the object is often called nazar boncuğu, meaning a bead associated with the nazar.
Similar eye-shaped protective objects occur across the Middle East, North Africa and southern Europe. Designs and names vary, but the central idea is protection from harmful attention.