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Hamsa Hand Designs
Arabic
There are several names used for this symbol throughout the Middle East. The one I am most familiar with is "hamsa" used by both Arabian Muslims and Israeli Jews. "Hamsa" is an Arabic word meaning five.
Jewish
"Hamesh" the Hebrew word for five is also used as a name for this symbol.
In Muslim culture, it is sometimes referred to as the "Hand of Fatima," for Mohammed's daughter Fatima.
In Jewish culture, it is sometimes referred to as the "Hand of Miriam" after Miriam the sister of Moses and Aaron.
Despite these names, the symbol itself and its meaning comes from the folklore and not anything in Islam or Judaism religions.
This symbol is sometimes also called the "Hand of God" or "Hand of Friendship."
Other traditions say that five-fingers of the hand represent either the five senses or the arms, legs and head which are to be protected by the hamsa.
There is some evidence that the symbol dates back to an ancient Middle Eastern goddess whose hand, or in some images vulva, was a protective symbol. The eye in the center of the hand is sometimes referred to as the "eye of god" or the "all seeing eye."
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