:Hamsa

File:Tophet Carthage.5.jpg and Baal Hammon with a carved open right hand, as well as sign of Tinnit, sign of Baal Hammon above, Caduceus and naval symbols]]

Early use of the hamsa can be traced to ancient Mesopotamian artifacts in the amulets of the goddess Inanna or Ishtar.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}} The image of the open right hand is also seen in Carthage{{Cite web|last=Kashgar|title=The Hamsa (Khamsa)|url=https://kashgar.com.au/blogs/ritual-objects/the-hamsa-khamsa|access-date=2021-01-10|website=Kashgar|language=en}} (modern-day Tunisia) and ancient North Africa and in Phoenician colonies in the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal). An 8th-century BCE Israelite tomb containing a hamsa-like hand inscription was discovered at Khirbet el-Qom.

Other symbols of divine protection based around the hand include the Hand-of-Venus (or Aphrodite), the Hand-of-Mary, used to protect women from the evil eye and/or boost fertility and lactation, promote healthy pregnancies and strengthen the weak. In that time ^{[what time?]}, women were under immense pressure and expectation to become mothers.{{cite book |last=Bass |first=Loretta E. |chapter=Child Labor in Senegal: Contemporary and Historical Perspective |volume=2: Sub-Saharan Africa |editor=Hugh D. Hindman |title=The World of Child Labor: An Historical and Regional Survey |publisher=Routledge |year=2009 |edition=1st |isbn=978-1-315-69877-9}} Women's upbringing was centered on becoming a mother as an exclusive role, and childbearing was considered necessary.{{cite book|last=Wadud|first=Amina|title=Qur'an and Woman|year=1999|publisher=Oxford University Press|location=New York|page=64}} Marriage was also thought to be a form of protection for both the man and the woman.{{cite journal |last=Sechzer |first=Jeri A. |title=Islam and Woman: Where Tradition Meets Modernity: History and Interpretations of Islamic Women's Status |journal=Sex Roles |volume=51 |pages=263–272 |year=2004 |doi=10.1023/B:SERS.0000046610.16101.e0}}

File:WPVA-khamsa.svgOne theory postulates a connection between the khamsa and the Mano Pantea (or Hand-of-the-All-Goddess), an amulet known to ancient Egyptians as the Two Fingers. In this amulet, the Two Fingers represent Isis and Osiris and the thumb represents their child Horus. It was used to invoke the protective spirits of parents over their child. Another theory traces the origins of the hamsa to Carthage or Phoenicia where the hand (or in some cases vulva) of the supreme deity Tanit was used to ward off the evil eye.Silver, 2008, [https://books.google.com/books?id=gqyiX6bg0TYC&dq=khamsa+evil+eye&pg=PA201 p. 201].

According to Bruno Barbatti, at that time{{when|date=December 2021}} this motif was the most important sign of apotropaic magic in the Islamic world, though many modern representations continue to show an origin in sex symbolism. This relates to the belief that God exists in everything.{{cn|date=December 2021}}File:Old-hamsa-amulet.jpg

Another meaning relates to the sky god Horus. It refers to the Eye of Horus, signifying that humans cannot escape from the eye of conscience. The sun and moon are seen as the eyes of Horus. The Hand of Fatima also represents femininity and is referred to as the woman's holy hand. It is believed to have extraordinary characteristics that can protect people from evil and other dangers.{{sfn|Sayed|2016|pp=23–24}}

File:TurkischeHauptArmeeHochenleitterBGHistory.png]]

Scholars speculate that Sephardic Jews were among the first to use this amulet due to their beliefs about the evil eye.{{cite book |last=Frankel |first=Ellen |last2=Teutsch |first2=Betsy Platkin |title=The Encyclopedia of Jewish Symbols |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |year=1992 |page=70}} The symbol of the hand appears in Kabbalistic manuscripts and amulets, doubling as the Hebrew letter "Shin", the first letter of "Shaddai", one of the names referring to God.{{cite web |last=Rubin |first=Norman A. |url=http://jewishmag.com/144mag/superstition_magic/superstition_magic.htm |title=Angels and Demons |publisher=Jewishmag.com |access-date=25 April 2025}} The use of the hamsa in Jewish culture has been intermittent, utilized often by Jews during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries,{{sfn|Sabar|2010}} but declined over time into the mid-twentieth century. However, the notion of a protective hand has been present in Judaism dating back to Biblical times, where it is referenced in Deuteronomy 5:15, stated in the Ten Commandments as the "strong hand" of God who led the Hebrews out of Egypt.{{sfn|Sabar|2010}} The hamsa is later seen in Jewish art as God's hand reaching down from heaven. Its use by Ashkenazi Jewish communities from this period is well-known. Evidence has also emerged of the hamsa being used by Jews from medieval Spain, often associated with "sympathetic magic".{{sfn|Sabar|2010}} Historians such as Shalom Sabar believe that after the Jewish expulsion from Spain in 1492, exiled Jews likely used the hamsa as protection in the foreign lands to which they relocated. However, this assumption remains difficult to prove.{{sfn|Sabar|2010}} According to Sabar, the hamsa has also been used later by Jews in Europe "as a distinctive sign of the priesthood, especially when they wished to show that a person was of priestly descent..."{{sfn|Sabar|2010}}

File:Ju IMG 1337.JPG

The khamsa holds recognition as a bearer of good fortune among Christians in the region as well. Levantine Christians call it the hand of Mary (Arabic: Kef Miryam, or the "Virgin Mary's Hand").{{sfn|Perry|1970|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=s3Y4AAAAIAAJ&q=to+the+little-+known+fact+that+the+amulet+designated+as+the+%22hand+of+Fatima%22+is+called+by+Levantine+Christians+the+%22hand+of+Mary%22 186]}}Trumball, 1896, [https://archive.org/details/thresholdcovena00trumgoog p. 77]. Thirty-four years after the end of Islamic rule in Spain, its use was significant enough to prompt an episcopal committee convened by Emperor Charles V to decree a ban on the Hand of Fatima and all open right-hand amulets in 1526.

The hand also became a widespread symbol among Muslims. It was in these groups that it became known as the Hand of Fatima, named for the Prophet Muhammad's daughter. The five fingers of the hand became associated with the Five Pillars of Islam. A Hamsa flag was reported to have been used by the Ottoman Empire during the Austro-Turkish War in 1788.

File:382 JUDAICA BLESSING.jpg in Hebrew]]

File:Amulet Spain Louvre OA3013.jpg

The hand, particularly the open right hand, is a sign of protection that also represents blessings, power, and strength, and is seen as potent in deflecting the evil eye.Rajab, 1989, p. 116. One of the most common components of gold and silver jewellery in the region of the Middle East, historically and traditionally, it was most commonly carved in jet or formed from silver, a metal believed to represent purity and to hold magical properties. It is also painted in red (sometimes using the blood of a sacrificed animal) on the walls of houses for protection, or painted or hung on the doorways of rooms, such as those of an expectant mother or new baby. The hand can be depicted with the fingers spread apart to ward off evil, or closed together to bring good luck. Similarly, it can be portrayed with the fingers pointing upward to ward off evil, or downward to bestow blessings. Highly stylised versions may be difficult to recognise as hands, and can consist of five circles representing the fingers, situated around a central circle representing the palm.Gomez, 1996, [https://books.google.com/books?id=ZbH5XYWiiy0C&dq=stylized+khamsa&pg=PA54 p. 54].

File:WLANL - petertf - Handje van Fatima.jpg

Used to protect against the evil eye, a malicious stare believed to cause illness, death, or general misfortune, hamsas often contain an eye symbol.Lynch and Roberts, 2010, [https://books.google.com/books?id=4Qiq4ps_wDIC&dq=khamsa+hand&pg=PT34 p. 8]. Depictions of the hand, the eye, or the number five in Arabic (and Berber) tradition are related to warding off the evil eye, as exemplified in the saying khamsa fi ainek ("five [fingers] in your eye").Ham and Bing, 2007, [https://books.google.com/books?id=V_IMx-YYvJYC&dq=khamsa+evil+eye&pg=PA385 p. 385]. Raising one's right hand with the palm showing and the fingers slightly apart is part of this curse meant "to blind the aggressor".Schimmel, [https://books.google.com/books?id=vrlwo4OqvWgC&dq=%22hand+of+fatima%22&pg=PA92 p. 92]. Another formula uttered against the evil eye in Arabic, but without hand gestures, is khamsa wa-khamis ("five and Thursday").Lent et al., 1996, p. 189.Shinar, 2004, [https://books.google.com/books?id=1huFh8xcpLEC&dq=khamsa+fish+hand&pg=PA117 p. 117]. As the fifth day of the week, Thursday is considered a favourable day for magic rites and pilgrimages to the tombs of revered saints to counteract the effects of the evil eye.Houtsma, 1993, p. 897.

Due to its significance in both Arabic and Berber culture, the hamsa is one of the national symbols of Algeria and appears in its emblem. It is also the most popular among different amulets (such as the Eye and the Hirz—a silver box containing verses of the Quran) for warding off the evil eye in Egypt.Badawi, 2004, [https://books.google.com/books?id=ojiQTtPEFckC&dq=khamsa+evil+eye&pg=PA510 p. 510]. Egyptian women who live in baladi ("traditional") urban quarters often make khamaysa, which are amulets made up of five (khamsa) objects attached to their children's hair or black aprons. The five objects can be made of peppers, hands, circles, or stars hanging from hooks.Early, 1993, [https://archive.org/details/baladiwomenofcai00earl/page/116 p. 116].

Jewish people have also adopted the symbol of the hand, often interpreted in relation to the Biblical passage that says that "the Lord took the Israelites out of Egypt with a strong hand and an outstretched arm".{{sfn|Sabar|2010|p=141}} The "strong hand" is representative of the hamsa, which rooted its relevance in the community. The helping hand exemplified God's willingness to help his people and guide them out of struggle. Around the time of the Byzantine period, artists depicted God's hand reaching from above.{{sfn|Sabar|2010|p=142}} God's hand from heaven would lead the Jewish people out of struggle, and the Jews subsequently made a connection with the hamsa and their culture. The hand was identified in Jewish texts and became an influential icon throughout the community. Among Jewish people, the hamsa is a highly respected, holy, and common symbol. It has sometimes been used to decorate the Ketubah (marriage contracts) and items used to dress the Torah, such as pointers and the Passover Haggadah.{{sfn|Sabar|2010|p=144}} The presence of the hand image both inside and outside of synagogues suggests the importance and reverence the Jewish community associated with the hamsa. The hand decorated many of the most religious and sacred objects and later emerged from a phase of lesser use.{{Cite web |last=Moreh |first=Rachel |date=26 April 2015 |title=Universality of the hamsa |url=https://haam.org/universality-of-the-hamsa/ |access-date=14 November 2024 |language=en-US}}

During modernisation across the Middle East, the hamsa symbol became less prominent in some areas due to its perceived incompatibility with secular ideals.{{Cite web|url=https://diamondion.com/hamsa-hand-secret-symbolism-and-meanings/|title=The Hamsa Hand: Secret Symbolism and Meanings|website=Diamondion|date=2018|access-date=12 September 2024}} However, it later emerged as a symbol of secularity and became a trendy talisman, frequently seen as a "good luck" charm. Today, the hamsa can be found on necklaces, keychains, postcards, lottery cards, and in advertisements, as well as high-end jewellery, decorative tilework, and wall decorations.{{Cite web|url=https://www.arabamerica.com/the-hamsa-hand/|title=The Hamsa Hand: A Cultural and Religious Symbol|date=18 March 2020|website=Arab America|access-date=12 September 2024}}

Similar to the Western phrase "knock on wood" or "touch wood", a common expression in the Middle East is "Khamsa, Khamsa, Khamsa, tfu, tfu, tfu," which mimics the sound of spitting to ward off bad luck.{{Cite web|url=http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/week-s-end/lady-luck-1.217597 |last=Bin-Nun |first=Yigal |work=Haaretz |date=8 April 2007 |access-date=21 June 2011|title=Lady Luck}}

Throughout various celebrations across the region, such as festivals emphasising fertility and prosperity, the number "5" is often highlighted, reflecting its association with the hamsa amulet. From Morocco to Turkey, the hamsa is a prevalent symbol of protection from misfortune and is widely incorporated into jewellery, home decor, and art.{{Cite web|url=https://www.turkeyhomes.com/blog/post/turkish-symbols|title=Turkish Symbols and Their Meanings|website=Turkey Homes|access-date=12 September 2024}} Many women across the region own at least one piece of jewellery featuring the hamsa, symbolizing the enduring cultural significance of this talisman.{{Cite web|url=https://moroccanzest.com/morocco-jewelry/|title=Moroccan Jewelry|date=22 August 2018|website=Moroccan Zest|language=en-US|access-date=21 February 2019}}

A symbol {{Unichar|1FAAC|hamsa|size=150%|image=|note=}} was added to Unicode in 2021 (Unicode 14.0, Emoji 14.0).{{Cite web |title=🪬 Hamsa Emoji |url=https://emojipedia.org/hamsa/ |access-date=10 February 2023 |website=Emojipedia |language=en}}

• Abhayamudra
• Evil eye
• Filakto
• Hand of God (art)
• Nazar
• Skandola
• Mississippian Culture Hand and Eye Motif
• Tenome

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• {{Commons category-inline|Khamsa}}

{{Amulets and Talismans}}

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Category:Amulets

Category:Objects believed to protect from evil

Category:Christian symbols

Category:Fatima

Category:Islam and Judaism

Category:Jewish symbols

Category:Buddhist symbols

Category:Mary, mother of Jesus

Category:National symbols of Algeria

Category:National symbols of Tunisia

Category:Hands in culture

Category:Inanna

Category:Tanit