Hand of Fatima

Khamsa in jewellery: history and symbolism

Published Jan 26, 2024

The khamsa is one of the most recognisable symbols in jewellery. Also known as the hamsa or Hand of Fatima, it is found from Morocco to Iran and beyond. Both as a hand and as the number five, the khamsa has been used for thousands of years to bless, protect, and ward off evil. In this post, part of my series on amulets in jewellery, we’ll look at its origins, its meanings, and how the symbol continues to live on in traditional and modern jewellery.

Khamsa or hamsa? Spelling and origins

First things first: how is it spelled? There are a myriad ways of spelling khamsa: khamsa, hamsa, chamsa, khoms, khoumsa, khmissa, hamesh…all of these are a rendering of words from another language, written in another script.

The word is known in both Arabic and Hebrew, and its spelling varies with each European language trying to come close to the pronunciation of the word in those languages. So if you’re looking for information online: try a few different spellings! (and here’s a post to help you do just that)

The khamsa symbol: both hand, and the number five

The key to understanding the khamsa symbol is to realise that it is actually two things: the power of the number 5, and the symbol of the hand. Both have become so closely related, they are inseparable. [1]

Khamsa means ‘five’ in Arabic. That is an auspicious number for both Islam and Judaism. In Islam, it refers to the five daily prayers and the five pillars of faith. In Judaism, the abbreviation of the name of God is heh, and the letter heh has the numerical value of five. [2] It is also associated with the five books of Moses. [3]

And as a hand has five fingers, you see how it makes sense to express the value of ‘five’ with an image of the hand. That is where the khamsa hands, that you see everywhere in jewellery, dress, and decorations come from. It’s also how it became known as Hand of Fatima, Main de Fatma, Hand of Maryam, Hand of Mary and other variations. But the hand as an amulet itself is a very old symbol, too.

How old is the khamsa symbol? Ancient roots in Mesopotamia and Egypt

Hands are amongst the oldest forms in the world: thousands of years ago, people already intentionally left handprints in rock shelters. These were a form of presence ‘we were here’, but we also find hands as protective symbols. The hand has remained a powerful symbol ever since.

In ancient Mesopotamia, the Hand of Ishtar was believed to keep evil away from your door. And interestingly, there is a connection between the goddess Ishtar, the number five (again!) and the five-pointed star: the number five also is associated with ancient astronomy. [4] See here how that has left its mark on ethnic jewellery millennia later!

In the gallery above you’ll see a small amulet in the shape of hand, dating from ancient Egypt.

Hands as symbols have been found in Iran, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia. They are often associated with goddesses, like Ishtar, but also Tanit. In the main monotheistic religions, hand amulets are called Hand of Fatima, Hand of Maryam or Hand of Mary.

But: not all khamsas take the shape of hands!

Khamsas beyond the hand: khomissar and foulet khamsa

As I wrote above, the khamsa is not only the hand. It is also a rendering of the number five. And as such, it does not always have to appear in the shape of a hand – a visual expression of the number five can take many forms.

The Tuareg khomissar is an amulet that is a khamsa (you will note the same root in its name), but it does not look like a hand. This amulet is called ‘five’ because of its design: in the gallery above you’ll see how it is constructed of five pieces of shell, mounted on leather.

And one of my favourite shapes of a khamsa is the Foulet Khamsa: I like this one so much that I gave it its very own blog post – with an exploration into its name!

Khamsas in traditional ethnic jewellery

All of these powers translate into jewellery really well. [5] You will find pendants in the shape of a hand from Morocco to Iran: a few are included in the gallery above. As you see, they most often feature as parts of another jewel. You will find dangles in the shape of hands, hands are engraved on pieces of jewellery, they are embroidered onto textiles…

That can be in stylized forms, like the pendants on the Omani hair clip or the Yemeni pendant shown below. And sometimes, that is to the point where it becomes really hard to tell if we’re looking at a stylized hand, a triangle or a stylized human shape…and that is the beauty of it, because in the end, this is where forms in jewellery can all of the above, depending on who you ask.

The hand is a beautiful shape to combine with other motifs that add to its meaning: the colours red and blue, the appearance of fish, the star and crescent, lizards, magical texts and more – there is an entire episode dedicated to hand and eye amulets in the e-course on Amulets & Magic in Jewellery.

Apart from the symbol of the hand, there are other ways to include the power of five in jewellery. The number is worked into patterns and designs in an intricate manner: see how to read numerology in jewellery here.

Khamsas in modern jewellery and popular culture

Today, khamsa hands are used in necklaces, rings, bracelets, and are often combined with evil eye jewellery. You’ll see them much more often as stand-alone pieces of adornment: a pendant, earrings, rings focusing exclusively on the symbol of the hand, instead of adding it as one of the motifs on jewellery and dress.

They are also abundantly used for other objects such as car amulets, keychains, or home decoration, and you’ll find them printed on textiles, embossed on leather bags, you name it. Modern khamsa art can be found everywhere, and is both popular with artists who are inspired by this ancient symbol to honour their cultural heritage as well as with tourists.

The meaning of the Khamsa: protection and blessing

The khamsa, whether as a hand or as the number five, has travelled through millennia while carrying the same essential meaning: protection, blessing, and hope. From ancient Mesopotamian hand symbols to modern pendants and keychains, it shows the extraordinary persistence of human belief expressed through jewellery. That continuity is what makes the khamsa so powerful — whether it is used as an amulet or just worn as an accessory, the shape of the hand itself connects us to thousands of years of human expression of hope and fear, and I love how a form that old still carries meaning today!⁠

Frequently Asked Questions about the khamsa symbol

What does the khamsa symbolise?
The khamsa represents protection and blessing, linked to the number five and the shape of the hand.

Why is the khamsa also called Hand of Fatima or Hand of Maryam?
These names reflect its adoption in Islamic and Jewish traditions: it carries meaning in both religions.

Are all khamsas shaped like hands?
No, some represent the number five in abstract forms, such as the Tuareg khomissar or the Moroccan Foulet Khamsa.

IS the khamsa still used today?
Yes, it appears in modern jewellery, home decoration, and art, often combined with other protective motifs like the evil eye.

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Want to learn how to read the protective powers in jewellery? This e-course rounds it all up for you.

More posts on jewellery and amulets? Browse them all here!

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References

[1] Paul Eudel notes in 1909 in his Dictionnaire des Bijoux, p. 95, that ‘the word which means five is also employed for the design of a jewel in the shape of an open hand’.

[2] F. Vukosavovic 2010, Angels and Demons. Jewish magic throughout the ages, p. 108.

[3] Eva-Maria von Kemnitz 2023, Hand of Fatima, Brill Publishers, p. 10.

[4] Eva-Maria von Kemnitz 2023, Hand of Fatima, Brill Publishers, p. 10.

[5] E. Doutté 1909, Magie et religion dans ‘l Afrique du Nord, p. 326-227 describes the wearing of silver and gold khamsas in jewellery in Morocco; Zwemer 1920, The Influence of Animism on Islam, p. 85 describes the same for Egypt.

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