What Does The Hamsa Hand Represent?

Most people interested in meaningful jewellery designs and the culture surrounding them will have at some point had some experience with the hamsa hand, whether depicted as part of a larger artwork or in a tiny, intricate pendant form.

Also known as the Hand of Fatima, the hamsa has been seen in a wide range of cultures, faiths and creeds, and whilst its meaning has shifted slightly over time, it is often understood as a symbol of protection.

It is unusual for a symbol to be shared amongst so many cultures and so to understand the importance of the hand, it is important to understand the symbol’s history and its connection to another famous and often depicted symbol in the evil eye.

Early Origins

The very first use of the symbol can be found in the ancient civilisation of Mesopotamia, with amulets and artefacts believed to be paying tribute to the goddess Inanna, also known as Ishtar to other contemporary empires such as the Akkadians and Babylonians.

Whilst her main symbol was the eight-pointed star, several artefacts also use this symbol, dated to roughly 2,000 years ago, although due to the long histories of civilisations such as these, it can be difficult to trace the exact date.

Around the same time, the civilisation of Phonecia based around the city of Carthage used a symbol of an open right hand, which was a symbol of their goddess Tanit.

It was here when the earliest connection to the hamsa’s antithesis, the evil eye, was found and the connection between the hand and protection from evil influences in the world. 

This connected the eye to the ancient Egyptians and the Israelites, who both adapted similar symbols, and it has since been linked to Judaism, Islam, some forms of Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism, giving it an unusual level of universality.

What It Means And Represents

The word “hamsa”, also occasionally spelt as “khamsa” translates from Arabic as the number “five”, but in practice, it refers to the five fingers of the hand, with its use being surprisingly versatile depending on the position and orientation of the fingers.

Typically made of silver, a metal that reflects purity, the hamsa is typically depicted as an upright hand, three fingers pointed straight upward whilst the thumb and little finger are pointed outwards.

It can also be depicted with the thumb and little finger closer and the hand pointed downwards to convey blessings.

It is known as the Hand of Fatima but has also been called the Hand of Miriam and the Hand of Mary. These women, the daughter of Muhammad, the sister of Moses and the mother of Jesus, respectively, are women renowned for their purity and protection.

Another important factor is the five figures, which is seen as a number that protects, often in reference to either the five senses, the five elements, the Five Pillars of Islam or the Five books of the Jewish Torah.

As well as this, there are some speculative views that the typical hamsa symbol is also reflective of a rude gesture, intended to ward off the evil eye through the use of a protective one that repels negativity.

Thanks to its universality, the hamsa has come to convey a lot of meanings, both personal and more widespread.