The Hand of
Fatima
The hamsa hand (Arabic) or hamesh hand (Hebrew) is an old and still popular
apotropaic amulet for magical protection from the envious or evil eye. The
words hamsa and hamesh mean "five" and refer to the digits on the hand. An
alternative Islamic name for this charm is the Hand of Fatima, in reference to
the daughter of Mohammed. An alternative Jewish name for it is the Hand of
Miriam, in reference to the sister of Moses and Aaron.
The hamsa hand appears both in a two-thumbed, bilaterally symmetrical form, as
shown, and in a more natural form in which there is only one thumb. There is
good archaeological evidence to suggest that the downward-pointing protective
hamesh / hamsa hand predates both Judaism and Islam and that it refers to an
ancient Middle Eastern goddess whose hand (or vulva, in other images) wards
off the evil eye.
Because the hamsa or hamesh hand protects against the evil eye, the design in
some examples merges into another design called the eye-in-hand motif. In
those instances, a realistic or stylized eye appears in the center of the palm
of the hand.
Source:
LuckyMojo.com |
