The Hamsa (also known as Khamsa) is a hand shaped symbol used to protect against the evil eye. Its name comes from a Semitic root and literally means "five".
Though it is widely used by both Jewish and Muslim people, its origins pre-date both religions and are attributed to the goddess Tanit who was a Phoenician lunar goddess, worshiped as the patron goddess at Carthage.
The Hamsa can also be seen as a symbol of the similarities of origins and tradition between the Islamic and Jewish faiths.
