The hamsa (Arabic: خمسة, romanized: khamsa, lit. 'five', referring to images of 'the five fingers of the hand'),[1][2][3] also known as the hand of Fatima,[4] is a palm-shaped amulet popular throughout North Africa and in the Middle East and commonly used in jewellery and wall hangings.[5][6] 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.
- ^ Zenner, 1988, p. 284.
- ^ World Institute for Advanced Phenomenological Research and Learning (Belmont, Estados Unidos), 1991, p. 219.
- ^ Drazin, 2009, p. 268.
- ^ González-Wippler, Migene (1991). The Complete Book of Amulets & Talismans. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications. p. 173. ISBN 978-0-87542-287-9.
- ^ Bernasek et al., 2008, p. 12.
- ^ Sonbol, 2005, pp. 355–359.