In Eastern countries, the feathers of a peacock are thought to be hopeful and protective. Peacocks in India are considered sacred and in northern parts of the country their feathers may be burned to ward off diseases. However, the same sentiment towards this bird and its feathers did not emerge in the Western culture and it all has to do with the eye-looking mark in its tail.
One myth says that Argus, the Greek legend, told a tale of a hundred-eyed monster that was turned into a peacock with all its eyes in its tail. Another story in the Mediterranean area says the eye is the ever watchful and envious glance of she-demon, Lilith, who was blamed for mysterious deaths of infants and other misfortunes.
In the Elizabethan times it was thought that the eye on the feather allowed the devil to see you and thus it was unlucky to keep feathers of a peacock in your home. It is also thought to be a bad omen to use peacock plumage in any form or fashion in a theatrical production. Again this was due to the “evil eye” in their tail feathers. Supposedly seeing a peacock in or near a theater is bad luck.
Perhaps something you might want to keep in mind when going to see a theater production. Better be on the look out for that...“evil eye.”
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