MALOCCHIO
Superstitious popular belief suggested by instinctive impressions or unfortunate coincidences through which it is held that a harmful influence emanates from certain individuals to the detriment of persons or things. Generally, the eye is considered the principal organ casting this harmful influence, whence the epithet *lettatore* (from *jettare*, "to cast" in the Neapolitan dialect) applied to those who cast II.
The *malocchio* may be attributed to an innocent and unfortunate deformity of gaze or body, but also to the deliberate malice of those who cast II. The Latins called this *invidia* from *in-video* ("I look against"; it is well known the incantation launched against the envious, on the floor of the Fishmongers' Shop in Ostia [reg. IV, insula 5a]): *"invidioso, ti acceco!"* ("envious one, I blind you!"); the Greeks called it βάσχανον, of unknown etymology, from which the Latin *fascinum* is derived.
The *malocchio* caused by envy may be directed against persons and things. As a remedy, the ancients (and current practice) used gold, an incorruptible metal (Pliny, *Nat. hist.*, XXXIII, 4); coral branches (*sucrali*) which, being red and pointed, pierce the harmful influence and nullify it (ibid., XXXII, 2); amber (*sicinium*), capable of becoming electrified by friction (ibid., XXXVII, 3); the *fascinum* and the *cyprea*, amulets reproducing the genitals, to divert evil glances and placate them with the smile provoked by their exhibition; these amulets, enclosed in a case (*bulla*), were hung around the necks of children, who were otherwise under the special protection of the goddess Cunina (Tertullian, *Ad nat.*, II, 11); rue (ibid., XIX, 27); *smilax* and other thorny plants, to pierce and hold the harmful influence (Dioscorides, IV, 1, 39); asarum (*baccar*) against excessive praise, which provokes envy (Servius, *Ad Ecl.*, VII, 27); to ward off possible harm from such praise, the Latins added an adverb: *prae fiscine!* meaning "may it be without charm, may no evil come of it!"
The *malocchio* directed against things targeted fields or the neighbor’s flock and was called *incantesimo* (from *cantus*) because it was performed with a magical formula. The Law of the Twelve Tables (table VIII, 1, 8, Bruns) forbids using this means to transfer the fruits of one’s neighbor’s field onto one’s own; Virgil (*Ecl.* VIII, 99) alludes to the *malocchio* that fascinates lambs.