“An apotropaic mark, also called a witch mark, is a symbol or pattern scratched on the walls of a building to protect it from evil spirits. The word ‘apotropaic’ comes from the Greek word for ‘averting evil.’ “The marks were usually scribed onto stone or woodwork, particularly near doorways, windows, and fireplaces. They have many forms. In England, they often have flowerlike patterns or overlapping circles.”
