People who use the expression ?looks could kill?e unwittingly reviving the once universal belief that the human eye had the power to injure or destroy an enemy. This fear is believed to have arisen from a primitive terror of being watched by wild animals, hostile tribesmen, evil spirits or jealous gods who resented human success.
Before the development of medical science disease and death were often attributed to the evil eye. Young children and animals were particularly venerable.
The evil eye was held responsible for male impotence and female frigidity. It was also thought that someone with the evil eye could blight crops.
Men and women with a physical deformity who might be suspected of envying their neighbours were considered the most likely possessors of the evil eye. This particularly applied to hunchbacks and dwarfs. Those with a squint, or eyes set at uneven levels, or those whose eyebrows met, were also suspected.
In Africa the Congolese Lugbara tribesmen believe and evil-eyed man can be identified from his squinty eyes and bad tempered disposition. He should quickly be placated with presents of beer and tobacco!
During the 16th and 17th centuries, when witches were said to destroy their victims by the power of the evil eye, hundreds of women were executed solely on the evidence that someone had died after receiving and angry look. The judges were so fearful of being bewitched when passing sentence that it was not uncommon for the accused to be led into court backwards. Methods of protection against the evil eye- or ?rlooking? it was called in Britain- took a variety of bizarre forms.
In the Near East and Turkey, passages from the Koran were painted on the outside walls of houses to provide a sacred barrier against the eye?nfluence. The symbol of the eye, which even today can be seen painted on the bows of fishing boats in some ports of the Mediterranean, was also supposed to counteract the effects.
Bunches of sage were used for protection in Portugal, and garlic was used throughout southeastern Europe, particularly among the Slavs and Greeks.
The Rwala Bedounis of Northern Arabia carry two marbles wherever they go- one black, for protection by night, one white for daytime insurance.
Throughout 18th-century Europe, red- the symbol of blood and good health- was believed to protect the wearer against the evil eye.
Italian brides covered their heads with a large red veil. In Rumania oxen had red rags tied to their horns. And Scottish crofters tied red ribbons to the tails of their livestock, or bound crosses of wood from the sacred rowan tree with strands of red thread.

Antidote- a hang?ope
In the days of public executions it was common for a spectator who believed himself to be bewitched to by a used rope from the hangman and burn it to ashes. These were mixed with cold water and swallowed to offset the dangers of the evil eye.
People who were convinced that their misfortunes were caused by the evil eye often attempted to return the curse to its source by throwing water upon the footprints of the person they suspected.
No one, it seems, was immune from possessing the power of the evil eye. Pope Pius IX (1792-1878) was said to be involuntarily endowed with the ability to kill those upon whom his glance rested.
King Alfonso of Spain was also reputed to have the evil eye. In 1923 he paid an official visit to Italy. Several sailors of the fleet sent to greet him were washed overboard, there was an explosion in one of the submarines, and ancient cannon fired in his honour blew up, killing its crew, and a naval officer with whom the king shook hands collapsed and died shortly afterwards.
During the king?our of Lake Gleno a dam burst, drowning 50 people and making 500 homeless.
The Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, who was terrified of the evil eye, refused to meet Alfonso personally, and conducted all negotiations through an intermediary.
Similar fears persist today, for at the United Nations some delegates still turn away when they see eye-like designs. Their anxiety has given rise to a story that lawns of the UN headquarters in New York were removed to ally the peril of the evil eye. The truth is more prosaic. The climate did not suit the imported peacocks: they died and were never replaced.