| The Hamsa Hand (Arabic) or Hamesh Hand | | | | Egypt. They represent anti-evil-eyes from Egypt. |
| (Hebrew) is an ancient and a renowned lucky | | | | Menorah: |
| amulet for magical protection from the resentful | | | | The Menorah is the oldest symbols of the Jewish |
| or evil eyes. The term "Hamsa" or "Hamesh" | | | | belief. This seven-branched candelabrum originated |
| means "five" and denotes the fingers of the hand. | | | | as a version of the Babylonian world tree. It is the |
| Another Islamic name for this lucky charm is the | | | | oldest symbol of the Jewish people used in the |
| Hand of Fatima, in reference to the daughter of | | | | Holy Temple in Jerusalem. |
| Mohammed. Another Jewish name for it is the | | | | The seven arms represent the seven days of |
| Hand of Miriam, referring to the sister of Moses | | | | formation and the seven apparent planets. |
| and Aaron. | | | | Strangely, the middle light is called as "Shamash", |
| The Hamsa Hand appears in a two-thumbed | | | | which is the name of the Babylonian Sun God. It is |
| fixture of joint symmetrical form, or in a more | | | | the most significant ritual object in the Temple of |
| creative form containing only one thumb. A good | | | | Jerusalem. |
| archaeological proof implies that the | | | | At the time of rededication of the temple, in |
| downward-pointing protective Hamsa/Hamesh | | | | second century BC, after a Greek invasion and |
| hand predates both Islam and Judaism. | | | | violation, the lamps of the Menorah burned for |
| However, many Hamsa Hands are lucky charms. | | | | eight continuous days on one day's oil. |
| There are certain recent Israeli Hamesh Hands | | | | This is the base of the nine-branched symbol or |
| made of ceramics, wherein a hand-lettered | | | | Hanukiyah with one branch for each of those |
| Hebrew prayer resides in the center of the palm. | | | | eight days, along with one middle light to light the |
| Hamsa Hands, generally made of | | | | others during the Hannukah festival. |
| turquoise-covered ceramics are famous in modern | | | | |