Khamsa in jewellery: history, symbolism, and the Hand of Fatima

by dr. Sigrid van Roode | Magic & Amulets

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!

A foulet khamsa from Morocco, with a bright green glass cabochon.

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!

Three silver hair ornaments for children from Oman

Khamassiyat forehead ornament, worn in the Jordan Valley and Bethlehem area.

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.

A silver hair clip from Oman, called halqa

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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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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The Bedouin Silver Jewellery Blog: Sigrid van Roode

Sigrid van Roode is an archeologist, ethnographer and jewellery historian. Her main field of expertise is jewellery from North Africa and Southwest Asia, as well as archaeological and archaeological revival jewellery. She has authored several books on jewellery, and obtained her PhD at Leiden University on jewellery, informal ritual and collections. Sigrid has lectured for the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, Turquoise Mountain Jordan, and many others. She provides consultancy and research on jewellery collections for both museums and private collections, teaches courses and curates exhibitions. She is not involved in the business of buying and selling jewellery, and focuses on research, knowledge production, and education only. Sigrid strongly believes in accessibility of knowledge, and aims to provide reliable and trustworthy content: that’s why the Bedouin Silver blog provides references and citations.

Foulet Khamsa

by dr. Sigrid van Roode | Magic & Amulets

amulets and magic

Foulet khamsa: an amulet from Morocco

Published Dec 25, 2023

This piece is called a foulet khamsa. It’s an ornament from Morocco, and it carries a surprising connection in its name – one that is rarely explicitly addressed. So I’m spilling the beans: what is this jewel, where and how was it worn, and what does it mean?

Foulet khamsa: what is it?

Foulet khamsa, also spelled fult khamsa, is a large pendant with four distinct lobes. You’ll see an example in the image above: click to enlarge it. The ornament is made of two pieces of sheet silver that have been embossed. In the centre is a green glass inset.

Normally, they would be in good silver, but the one I’m showing you here is in low-grade silver. It has been pretty banged up during it’s life: you see the dents, and it has a new loop soldered onto it.⁠ This piece has lived for sure!

Foulet khamsa: what does it really mean?

The spelling foulet is in French transliteration, because Morocco has long been colonized by the French. Click here to see how colonization still affects our understanding through things like spelling.

So what is that ‘foulet‘? It’s the Arabic fūl – yes, like the delicious dish fūl. It means ‘fava bean’, and its plural is fūlāt [1]. This piece of jewellery, too, is named after food! Click here to find out more on why that is not crazy – food is often used as metaphor in jewellery. So, foulet khamsa roughly translates to ‘Khamsa of Beans’ or ‘Bean Khamsa‘.

What is the relation between this ornament and a fava bean…? First, the four lobes of the ornament resemble fava beans in their shape. But throughout North Africa, fava beans carry additional significance. They are among the staple foods, but they also are considered to bring good luck. Because of their bright green appearance when they’re fresh, they are associated with growth, fertility, and in particular with produce of the earth. [2] The other image above is indeed of fresh, green fava beans: click to enlarge it and see how juicy these look!

‘Foulet Khamsa means ‘khamsa of beans’ or ‘bean khamsa’ – it’s an extra special khamsa‘

Foulet khamsa: how are they worn?

Pendants like these were worn on a necklace, or suspended from a belt. Eudel attributes this difference in wearing to regional preferences. He notes that women in Marrakech wear the foulet khamsa on their chest, as a necklace. Women in Tanger and more towards the coast, on the other hand, wore it attached to their belt. [3] Von Kemnitz writes that smaller ones were used as pendant, and larger examples as belt ornaments. [4] I think the reality is flexible as always, as there are examples of photographs showing women wearing quite sizeable pieces on a necklace.

Foulet khamsa: who would wear them?

Tanger, where Eudel saw them suspended as a belt ornament, is in the north of Morocco. Apparently the foulet khamsa was worn there in the early 20^th century. Later books only refer to the southern part of the Atlantic coast, between roughly Essaouira and Tiznit. [5]

So, this ornament was popular along the coast. It disappeared in the north at some point, but continued to be popular along the southern Atlantic coast. The pieces made in Essaouira are among the finest decorated foulet khamsa in their intricate designs. The foulet khamsa was worn by both Muslim and Jewish women: its use is more regionally defined than by faith. [6]

**How is this ornament a khamsa?**

And now for the obvious question! Khamsa means ‘five’. This ornament has four lobes. So how is this a khamsa…?⁠ The trick is that these are called khamsa because of their entire design.

See that green glass inset in the centre? Together with the four circular details around it, that makes five. [7] Alternatively, if we interpret the lobes as bright green fava beans, the green glass in the center would make that five, too. However, not all foulet khamsa carry green glass: they are known with various other colours of glass, too, as well as semi-precious stones. [7]

It’s not always immediately obvious how the number 5 is worked into jewellery, but once you recognize the pattern, it’s easy to see!⁠ Click here to learn how to spot numerology in jewellery.

Foulet khamsa: a layered amulet

Some examples of the foulet khamsa stress this importance through additional hands integrated in their decoration. [9] The ornament pictured above may even have had additional hands, but they are too damaged to be sure. On the individual lobes, you may also find other forms enhancing their power, such as fish or birds. [10] The vegetal motifs on the ornament also reinforce the combination of the power of fava beans and the magic of the number five: a layered, beautiful amulet!

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References

[1] Already noted by Eudel 1906, Dictionnaire des Bijoux, p. 75. He adds that it also is used to indicate the nut in a firearm.

[2] Westermarck 1905, in his article Midsummer Customs in Morocco, mentions the use of fava beans to ensure a good crop in the coming harvest season (p. 36). Edmond Doutté 1909, Magie et Religion de l’Afrique du Nord, shares examples of fava beans used in festivities notably in Algeria.

[3] Eudel 1906, Dictionnaire des Bijoux, p. 75.

[4] Eva-Maria von Kemnitz 2023, Hand of Fatima, Brill Publishers, p. 51.

[5] As defined by Grammet 1998, De Juwelen, in: Magisch Marokko, p. 300. Von Kemnitz 2023, p. 50 also places these in southern coastal towns with Essaouira and Marrakech as its most important production centers. Rabaté & Goldenberg 1999, Bijoux du Maroc, p. 195 also mention the southern towns.

[6] They are for example also featured in A. Muller-Lancet, D. Champault & Y. Fischer (eds), La Vie Juive au Maroc, p. 131.

[7] Rabaté & Goldenberg 1999, Bijoux du Maroc, p. 195 mentions this explanation as well.

[8] Von Kemnitz 2023, Hand of Fatima, p. 49-51 for a description and materials used in the foulet khamsa. Here, only the khamsa in the name is addressed, and the significance of the fava beans left out.

[9] See Grammet 1998, De Juwelen, in: Magisch Marokko, p. 300 & 302 for an example, as well as Von Kemnitz 2023, p. 51.

[10] See Rabaté & Goldenberg 1999, Bijoux du Maroc, p. 197 for examples.

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Sigrid van Roode

Sigrid van Roode is an archeologist, ethnographer and jewellery historian. Her main field of expertise is jewellery from North Africa and Southwest Asia, as well as archaeological and archaeological revival jewellery. She has authored several books on jewellery. Sigrid has lectured for the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden, Turquoise Mountain Jordan, and many others. She provides consultancy and research on jewellery collections for both museums and private collections, teaches courses and curates exhibitions. She is not involved in the business of buying and selling jewellery, and focuses on research, knowledge production, and education only.