Lot: 172 - Hand of Fatima

From Map Academy

A talismanic symbol traditionally found in Abrahamic religions, particularly Shia Islam, the Hand of Faitma is believed to ward off evil and bad luck. Also known as hamsa in Hebrew and khamsa in Arabic, it is depicted as a right palm with the fingers held together and pointed upwards. The tip of the thumb is curved away from the other fingers, as is the smallest finger, making the Hand visually symmetrical. The symbol of an evil eye is often added in the palm area as an additional layer of protection.

The Hand of Fatima is believed to have originated in Carthage, an ancient city in present-day Tunisia, in the second millennium BCE. Initially a symbol for the Phoenecian goddess Tanit, the Hand was later absorbed into Jewish iconography as the Hand of Miriam. While its subsequent use in Christian imagery as the Hand of Mary was limited, it went on to become a widespread symbol among mediaeval Muslims. Following the now established tradition of naming the Hand after a protective female figure, it was called the Hand of Fatima after the daughter of the Prophet Mohammed. The five fingers of the Hand came to represent the five members of the Ahl al-Bayt, the Prophet’s family: Mohammed, Fatima, her husband Ali, and their sons Hussain and Hassan.