Hamsa

This article is about the amulet. For other uses, see Hamsa (disambiguation) and Khamsa (disambiguation). For the Arabic letter, see Hamza.

"Eye of Fatima" redirects here. For the Camper Van Beethoven songs, see Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart.

"Hand of Fatima" redirects here. For the rock formation, see Hand of Fatima (rock formation).

A hanging hamsa in Tunisia

The hamsa (Arabic: خمسة, romanized: khamsa, lit. 'five', Hebrew: חַמְסָה, referring to images of 'the five fingers of the hand'), also known as the hand of Fatima, is a palm-shaped amulet popular throughout North Africa and in the Middle East and commonly used in jewellery and wall hangings. Depicting the open hand, an image recognized and used as a sign of protection in many times throughout history, the hamsa has been traditionally believed to provide defense against the evil eye.

History

Origin

A Punic stela from Carthage dedicated to Tinnit 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 could be traced to ancient Mesopotamian artifacts in the amulets of the goddess Inanna or Ishtar. The image of the open right hand is also seen in Carthage (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, that was used to protect women from the evil eye and/or boost fertility and lactation, promote healthy pregnancies and strengthen the weak. In that time, women were under immense pressure and expectation to become mothers. The woman's upbringing was centered on becoming a mother as an exclusive role, and it indicated childbearing as necessary. It was also thought that marriage was a sense of protection for both the man and the woman.

A drawing depicting a hamsa

One 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. According to Bruno Barbatti, at that time this motive was the most important sign of apotropaic magic in the Islamic world, though many modern representations continue to show an obvious origin from sex symbolism. This relates to the belief that God exists in everything.

Hamsa Amulet

Another meaning of this symbol relates to the sky god, Horus. It refers to the Eye of Horus, which means humans cannot escape from the eye of conscience. It says that the sun and moon are 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.

Adaptation

A flag of the hand surrounded by circular stars seen in the center background used by the Ottoman army

It is speculated that Sephardic Jews were among the first to use this amulet due to their beliefs about the evil eye. 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. The use of the hamsa in Jewish culture has been intermittent, utilized often by Jews during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, then less and less 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. 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, and evidence has also emerged of the hamsa being used by Jews from medieval Spain, often associated with "sympathetic magic". 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 they were forced to relocate to, however this assumption has been difficult to prove. 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..."

A ceramic hamsa depicting Jesus and his disciples

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"). 34 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 Prophet Muhammad's daughter. The five fingers of the hand became associated with the Five Pillars of Islam. A Hamsa flag was reported to be used by the Ottoman Empire during the Austro-Turkish War in 1788.

Symbolism and usage

A hamsa embossed with the words of the Priestly Blessing in Hebrew

Amulet with two hands of Fatimah, bearing the inscriptions "God is the guardian", "God brings consolation in all trials"

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. 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 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 as closed together to bring good luck. Similarly, it can be portrayed with the fingers pointing up in warding, or down to bestow blessings. Highly stylized versions may be difficult to recognize as hands, and can consist of five circles representing the fingers, situated around a central circle representing the palm.

Silver hamsa amulet of Berber tradition (khmissa)

Used to protect against evil eye, a malicious stare believed to be able to cause illness, death or just general unluckiness, hamsas often contain an eye symbol. 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"). Raising one's right hand with the palm showing and the fingers slightly apart is part of this curse meant "to blind the aggressor". Another formula uttered against the evil eye in Arabic, but without hand gestures, is khamsa wa-khamis ("five and Thursday"). As the fifth day of the week, Thursday is considered a good day for magic rites and pilgrimages to the tombs of revered saints to counteract the effects of the evil eye.

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 the 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. Egyptian women who live in baladi ("traditional") urban quarters often make khamaysa, which are amulets made up of five (khamsa) objects to attach to their children's hair or black aprons. The five objects can be made of peppers, hands, circles or stars hanging from hooks.

Jewish people have also adopted the symbol of the hand, often interpreted in relation with the Biblical passage that says that "the Lord took the Israelites out of Egypt with a strong hand and an outstretched arm". The "strong hand" is representative of the hamsa, which rooted its relevance in the community then. The helping hand exemplified God's willingness to help his people and direct them out of struggle. Around the time of the Byzantine period, artists would depict God's hand reaching from up above. God's hand from heaven would lead the Jewish people out of struggle, and the Jews quickly made a connection with the hamsa and their culture. The hand was identified in Jewish text and acquired as an influential icon throughout the community. Amongst the Jewish people, the hamsa is a very respected, holy, and common symbol. It has sometimes been used as decoration for the Ketubah, or marriage contracts, as well as items that dress the Torah such as pointers, and the Passover Haggadah. The use of the hand as images both in and out of the synagogue suggests the importance and relevance that the Jewish people associated with the hamsa. The hand decorated some of the most religious and divine objects and has since emerged from its uncommon phase.

During modernization across the Middle East, the hamsa symbol became less prominent in some areas due to its perceived incompatibility with secular ideals. 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 jewelry, decorative tilework, and wall decorations.

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.

Throughout various celebrations across the region, such as festivals emphasizing 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 jewelry, home decor, and art. Many women across the region own at least one piece of jewelry featuring the hamsa, symbolizing the enduring cultural significance of this talisman.

A symbol U+1FAAC 🪬 HAMSA was added to Unicode in 2021 (Unicode 14.0, Emoji 14.0).

See also

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

References

Bibliography

• Badawi, Cherine (2004). Footprint Egypt (4th, illustrated ed.). Footprint Travel Guides. ISBN 978-1-903471-77-7.
• Bernasek, Lisa; Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology; Burger, Hillel S. (2008). Artistry of the everyday: beauty and craftsmanship in Berber art (Illustrated ed.). Peabody Museum Press, Harvard University. ISBN 9780873654050.
• Drazin, Israel (2009). Maimonides and the Biblical Prophets. Gefen Publishing House Ltd. ISBN 9789652294302.
• Evelyn A. Early (1993). Baladi women of Cairo: playing with an egg and a stone (Illustrated ed.). Lynne Rienner Publishers. ISBN 9781555872687.
• Gomez, Aurelia (1996). Crafts of Many Cultures: 30 Authentic Craft Projects from Around the World. Scholastic Inc. ISBN 9780590491822.
• "Jewish magic and superstition in Israel". Abc.net.au. 2010-05-22. Retrieved 2013-06-25.
• M. Th. Houtsma (1993). M. Th. Houtsma (ed.). E.J. Brill's first encyclopedia of Islam, 1913–1936 (Reprint ed.). BRILL. ISBN 9789004097902.
• Lent, J. M.; Bearman, Peri J.; Qureshi, Hakeem-Uddeen (1997). The encyclopaedia of Islam, new edition (2nd ed.). Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-10795-3.
• Lenhart, Sandy (2011). "Hand of Fatima Meaning - Origin and Variations". Ezine Articles. February 17, 2011.
• Lynch, Patricia Ann; Roberts, Jeremy (2010). African Mythology A to Z (2nd, revised ed.). Infobase Publishing. ISBN 9781604134155.
• McGuinness, Justin (2002). Footprint Tunisia Handbook (3rd, illustrated ed.). Footprint Travel Guides. ISBN 978-1-903471-28-9.
• Nocke, Alexandra (2009). The place of the Mediterranean in modern Israeli identity (Illustrated ed.). BRILL. ISBN 9789004173248.
• Perennial Books (1970). Studies in comparative religion, Volumes 4–5. University of California.
• Rajab, J. (1989). Palestinian Costume. Indiana University. ISBN 978-0-7141-2517-6.
• Schimmel, Annemarie (1994). Deciphering the signs of God: a phenomenological approach to Islam. SUNY Press. ISBN 9780791419823.
• Shadur, Joseph; Shadur, Yehudit (2002). Traditional Jewish papercuts: an inner world of art and symbol (Illustrated ed.). UPNE. ISBN 9781584651659.
• Shinar, Pessah (2004). Modern Islam in the Maghrib. JSAI. ISBN 9789657258026.
• Silver, Alan (2008). Jews, Myth and History: A Critical Exploration of Contemporary Jewish Belief and Its Origins. Troubador Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-84876-064-6.
• Sonbol, Amira El Azhary (2005). Beyond the exotic: women's histories in Islamic societies. Syracuse University Press. ISBN 9780815630555.
• Trumbull, Henry Clay (1896). The threshold covenant: or, The beginning of religious rites (2nd ed.). C. Scribner's.
• World Institute for Advanced Phenomenological Research and Learning (Belmont, Estados Unidos) (1991). Anna-Teresa Tymieniecka (ed.). Roman Ingarden's aesthetics in a new key and the independent approaches of others: the performing arts, the fine arts, and literature, Volume 3. Springer. ISBN 9780792310143.
• Steinmetz, Sol (2005). Dictionary of Jewish usage: a guide to the use of Jewish terms. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9780742543874.
• Zenner, Walter P. (1988). Persistence and flexibility: anthropological perspectives on the American Jewish experience (Illustrated ed.). SUNY Press. ISBN 9780887067488.

External links

• Media related to Khamsa at Wikimedia Commons