Hamsa

Hamsa

The Hamsa (Arabic: خمسة‎‎ Khamsah, Hebrew: חַמְסָה‎, also romanized khamsa, Berber: ⵜⴰⴼⵓⵙⵜ Tafust), is a palm-shaped amulet popular throughout the Middle East and North Africa, originally from North Africa, and commonly used in jewelry and wall hangings.[1][2] Depicting the open right hand, an image recognized and used as a sign of protection in many times throughout history, the hamsa is believed by some, predominantly Jews and Muslims, to provide defense against the evil eye. It has been theorized that its origins lie in Ancient Egypt or Carthage (modern-day Tunisia) and may have been associated with the goddess Tanit.[3]

Khamsah is an Arabic word that means "five", but also "the five fingers of the hand".[4][5][6] It may also be taken as a reference to the primary number itself.

The Hamsa is also known as the Hand of Fatima, after the daughter of the prophet Muhammad.[7]

History

Examples in Israel

Early use of the hamsa has been traced to ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) as well as ancient Carthage (modern day Tunisia). A universal sign of protection, the image of the open right hand is seen in Mesopotamian artifacts in the amulets of the goddess Ishtar or Inanna.[2] Other symbols of divine protection based around the hand include the Hand-of-Venus (or Aphrodite), the Hand-of-Mary, that was used to protect women from the evil eye and/or boost fertility and lactation, promote healthy pregnancies and strengthen the weak.[2] In that time, women were under immense pressure and expectation to become mothers.[8] The woman's upbringing was centered on becoming a mother as an exclusive role, and it indicated child bearing as necessary.[9] It was also thought that marriage was a sense of protection for both the man and woman.[10]

One theory postulates a connection between the khamsa and the Mano Pantea (or Hand-of-the-All-Goddess), an amulet known to ancient Egyptians as the Two Fingers. In this amulet, the Two Fingers represent Isis and Osiris and the thumb, their child Horus and it was used to invoke the protective spirits of parents over their child.[2] Another theory traces the origins of the hamsa to Carthage (Phoenicia, modern Tunisia) where the hand (or in some cases vulva) of the supreme deity Tanit was used to ward off the evil eye.[11] According to Bruno Barbatti, at that time this motive was the most important sign of apotropaic magic in the Islamic world, though many modern representations continue to show obviously an origin from sex symbolism.

This relates to the belief that God exists in everything. Another meaning of this symbol relates to the sky god, Horus. It refers to the eye of Horus, which means humans cannot escape from the eye of conscience. It says that the sun and moon are the eyes of Horus. The Hand of Fatima also represents femininity, and is referred as the woman's holy hand. It is believed to have extraordinary characteristics that can protect people from evil and other dangers.[12]

The hamsa's path into Jewish culture, and its popularity particularly in Sephardic and Mizrahi Jewish communities, can be traced through its use in Islam.[2][11] Many Jews believe that the five fingers of the hamsa hand remind its wearer to use their five senses to praise God.[13] This "favourite Muslim talisman" became a part of Jewish tradition in North African and Middle Eastern Muslim countries.[14] The symbol of the hand appears in Kabbalistic manuscripts and amulets, doubling as the Hebrew letter "Shin", the first letter of "Shaddai", one of the names referring to God.[15]

The khamsa holds recognition as a bearer of good fortune among Christians in the region as well. Levantine Christians call it the hand of Mary (Arabic: Kef Miryam, or the "Virgin Mary's Hand").[16][17] Well after (34 years, in fact) the end of Islamic rule in Spain, its use was significant enough to prompt an episcopal committee convened by Emperor Charles V to decree a ban on the Hand of Fatima and all open right hand amulets in 1526.[2]

Symbolism and usage

Clay hamsa with an inscription in Hebrew (Translates to "good luck")

The Hand (Khamsa), particularly the open right hand, is a sign of protection that also represents blessings, power and strength, and is seen as potent in deflecting the evil eye.[2][18] One of the most common components of gold and silver jewelry in the region,[19] historically and traditionally, it was most commonly carved in jet or formed from silver, a metal believed to represent purity and hold magical properties.[2][20] It is also painted in red (sometimes using the blood of a sacrificed animal) on the walls of houses for protection,[21][22] or painted or hung on the doorways of rooms, such as those of an expectant mother or new baby.[2] The hand can be depicted with the fingers spread apart to ward off evil, or as closed together to bring good luck.[23] Highly stylized versions may be difficult to recognize as hands, and can consist of five circles representing the fingers, situated around a central circle representing the palm.[23]

Used to protect against evil eye, a malicious stare believed to be able to cause illness, death or just general unluckiness, hamsas often contain an eye symbol.[20][24] Depictions of the hand, the eye or the number five in Arabic (and Berber) tradition are related to warding off the evil eye, as exemplified in the saying khamsa fi ainek ("five [fingers] in your eye").[24] Raising one's right hand with the palm showing and the fingers slightly apart is part of this curse meant "to blind the aggressor".[21] Another formula uttered against the evil eye in Arabic, but without hand gestures, is khamsa wa-khamis ("five and Thursday").[25][26] As the fifth day of the week, Thursday is considered a good day for magic rites and pilgrimages to the tombs of revered saints to counteract the effects of the evil eye.[27]

Due to its significance in both Arabic and Berber culture, the hamsa is one of the national symbols of Algeria and appears in its emblem. It is also the most popular among the different amulets (such as the Eye and the Hirz — a silver box containing verses of the Quran) for warding off the evil eye in Egypt.[19] Egyptian women who live in baladi ("traditional") urban quarters often make khamaysa, which are amulets made up of five (khamsa) objects to attach to their children's hair or black aprons. The five objects can be made of peppers, hands, circles or stars hanging from hooks.[22]

At the time of the re-establishment of the State of Israel, the widespread use of the talisman by Mizrahi Jews was initially looked down upon by Ashkenazi communities, although use of the hamsa has become more common in recent decades. The hamsa has become a symbol in everyday Israeli life, and to a degree, a symbol of Israel itself.[28] It has come to be a symbol of secularity, and a trendy talisman; a "good luck" charm appearing on necklaces, keychains, postcards, telephone and lottery cards, and in advertisements.[28] It is also incorporated into high-end jewellery, decorative tilework and wall decorations.[28] Its use by Ashkenazi Jews outside of Israel both historically and contemporaneously is intermittent but not unknown.

Similar to the Western use of the phrase "knock on wood" or "touch wood", a common expression in Israel is "Hamsa, Hamsa, Hamsa, tfu, tfu, tfu", the sound for spitting, supposedly to spit out bad luck.[29]

At the Mimouna, a North African Jewish celebration held after Passover, tables are laid with various symbols of luck and fertility, with an emphasis on the number "5", such as five pieces of gold jewelry or five beans arranged on a leaf of pastry. The repetition of the number five is associated with the hamsa amulet.[30]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Bernasek et al., 2008, p. 12.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Sonbol, 2005, pp. 355–359.
  3. ↑ Cuthbert, Roland (2015). The Esoteric Codex: Amulets and Talismans. Raleigh, NC: Lulu.com. p. 49. ISBN 978-1-329-50204-8.
  4. ↑ Zenner, 1988, p. 284.
  5. ↑ World Institute for Advanced Phenomenological Research and Learning (Belmont, Estados Unidos), 1991, p. 219.
  6. ↑ Drazin, 2009, p. 268.
  7. ↑ González-Wippler, Migene (1991). The Complete Book of Amulets & Talismans. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications. p. 173. ISBN 978-0-87542-287-9.
  8. ↑ "The World of Child Labor". Loretta E. Bass. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  9. ↑ Wadud, Amina (1999). Qur'an and Woman. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 64.
  10. ↑ Sechzer, Jeri (2004). ""Islam and Woman: Where Tradition Meets Modernity": History and Interpretations of Islamic Women's Status". Sex Roles. 51 (5/6): 263. doi:10.1023/B:SERS.0000046610.16101.e0.
  11. 1 2 Silver, 2008, p. 201.
  12. ↑ Lenhart, Sandy. "Hand of Fatima Meaning - Origin and Variations". Ezine Articles. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 September 2013.
  13. ↑ "Hamsa Hand Symbology: What Is the Hamsa Hand?" (Hamesh, Chamsa, Khamsa). N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2013.
  14. ↑ Shadur, Joseph and Jehudit (2002). Traditional Jewish Papercuts - An Inner Worlds of Art and Symbol. University Press of New England. p. 92. ISBN 9781584651659.
  15. ↑ EMAIL, Jewish Magazine. "Angels and Demons". Jewishmag.com. Retrieved 2013-06-25.
  16. ↑ Perennial Books, 1970, p. 186.
  17. ↑ Trumball, 1896, p. 77.
  18. ↑ Rajab, 1989, p. 116.
  19. 1 2 Badawi, 2004, p. 510.
  20. 1 2 Lynch and Roberts, 2010, p. 8.
  21. 1 2 Schimmel, p. 92.
  22. 1 2 Early, 1993, p. 116
  23. 1 2 Gomez, 1996, p. 54.
  24. 1 2 Ham and Bing, 2007, p. 385.
  25. ↑ Lent et al., 1996, p. 189.
  26. ↑ Shinar, 2004, p. 117.
  27. ↑ Houtsma, 1993, p. 897.
  28. 1 2 3 Nocke, 2009, pp. 133–134.
  29. ↑ "Jewish magic and superstition in Israel". Abc.net.au. 2010-05-22. Retrieved 2013-06-25.
  30. ↑ Bin-Nun, Yigal (8 April 2007). "Lady Luck". Haaretz. Retrieved 21 June 2011.

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