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THE POWERFUL ROLE OF THE EYE AND OF FACE-TO-FACE BEHAVIOR IN daily life is experienced by every being at all times. It affects greatly the formation and the nature of human relationships. Study of ancient monuments, myths, and religions suggests that their creators had also experienced the "power of the eye" and woven this knowledge into their creations.1
It is my thesis that ancient beliefs in the function and power of the eye are rooted in universal mutual gaze patterns of childhood. In order to support this thesis, I will describe four developmental phases of childhood and their characteristics in respect to eye experience and assigned eye power. I will use these developmental constructs as a framework to order the data from ancient monuments, myths, and religions.
In addition, I plan to show that the transformation of ancient eye beliefs from more primitive, primary process, magical beginnings to more rational, reality-oriented, secondary process, ethical forms parallels that of the individual child. This process of transformation can be seen most clearly in those cultural works which provide us with continuous evidence over centuries, such as the Bible and the Greek culture. The