Hamsa (hand of God, eye of Fatima)

Hamsa is an ancient talisman, an amulet against the evil eye, it is "hand of protection" or "hand of God".

Hamsa represents a stylized image of hands. But it is not an anatomical copy of the palm and three fingers raised in the middle with two symmetrical thumbs on the sides.

Although it is widely used by Jews and Muslims, it existed even before the emergence of these religions and was associated with the goddess Tanit, the moon goddess of the Phoenicians, the patroness of Carthage.
Archaeological evidence suggests that a downward Hamsa is used in the region as a protective amulet before its use by adherents of monotheistic religions.

The origin of the Hamsa as the hand, diverting the evil eye as a symbol of blessing good luck and happiness, unknown. This motif is found everywhere - in Asia, in Africa, in America, but more often the symbol is perceived as the Eastern, the name of which in Arabic and Semitic goes back to the concept of "the quints".

Arabs think of his Khamsa, call it "hand of Fatima", the only daughter of the prophet Muhammad, and draw on it the Muslim Crescent. It is said that once Fatima was preparing sweets in the garden, stirring the halva on fire, and her husband Ali came into the house with a new, second, wife. Fatima, stricken to the heart, dropped the spoon and continued to stir the hot halvah with her hand, not noticing the pain. Since then her arm has become a symbol of patience. Hamsa is also considered a symbol of the five pillars of Islam: faith, prayer, pilgrimage, fasting, charity.

The Jews, in respect of the anchovy, are also contending for the championship and call it the "hand of Miriam", sister of Moses and Aaron. " The all-seeing Eye" in the center of the palm is the embodiment of divine Providence.