Why do the people steadily such a thing as "bad" or "black eye"? They are distributed as in civilized countries, and in semi-wild tribes. And these beliefs are not less than 4000 years. Superstition? Absurd prejudices The ancients believed eyes a window through which the soul enters the body and leaves him. There was a steady conviction that the same way people can communicate with each other "good" and "evil" spirits (demons) who live within them. Similar "Superstition" surprisingly tenacious. Echoes of these beliefs can be found even in the Bible: "For from within, from the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts evil eye." (Mark, 7, 21).
Or: "The light of the body is the eye. So, if your eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light, but if the eye be evil, thy whole body will be dark. " (Matthew, 6, 23). Snakes and hypnotic gaze. "Magical sight" is well known in the animal world.
Especially among the snakes. French naturalist Levollan not once had the opportunity to see this in the jungles of India. Thus, in one case his attention the strange behavior of spotted woodpecker. Sitting on a tree, it is wildly screaming and writhing in convulsions. The reason became clear at once: a meter of it settled on a branch rather large snake. Motionless, she stared at the bird his sparkling eyes. Unequal "duel" was over quickly: the pecker fell off the tree dead. When his inspection did not reveal the slightest damage.