What is this symbol?
January 27, 2010 7:17 AM Subscribe
What is this symbol? http://tinyurl.com/ydaheoz
What is this symbol? http://tinyurl.com/ydaheoz
It looks kind of like a Jewish symbol of a hand with the same blue colored gem, but I'm inclined to believe that it's something to do with a bird. Although it looks nothing like a bird. Help?
What is this symbol? http://tinyurl.com/ydaheoz
It looks kind of like a Jewish symbol of a hand with the same blue colored gem, but I'm inclined to believe that it's something to do with a bird. Although it looks nothing like a bird. Help?
It's a hamsa in Jewish culture and a hand of Fatima in Muslim culture.
posted by amro at 7:20 AM on January 27, 2010
posted by amro at 7:20 AM on January 27, 2010
Meatbomb is correct that it is supposed to ward off the evil eye, but that's not what it's called.
posted by amro at 7:21 AM on January 27, 2010
posted by amro at 7:21 AM on January 27, 2010
Third eye / evil eye.
No, it's actually a defense against the "evil eye." Hamsa. The hand represents an Arabic saying loosely translated as five fingers in your eye.
It's somewhat widely associated with mystical Judaism today thanks to Kabbalah.
posted by jckll at 7:23 AM on January 27, 2010
No, it's actually a defense against the "evil eye." Hamsa. The hand represents an Arabic saying loosely translated as five fingers in your eye.
It's somewhat widely associated with mystical Judaism today thanks to Kabbalah.
posted by jckll at 7:23 AM on January 27, 2010
Best answer: There is also a bird called a hamso used in Indian culture, but that's different. More information. (Sorry for all the comments, hamsas are kinda my thing.)
posted by amro at 7:23 AM on January 27, 2010
posted by amro at 7:23 AM on January 27, 2010
Yes, it's a hamsa. Yes, sometimes they look like birds, even if not on purpose.
posted by Acari at 7:23 AM on January 27, 2010
posted by Acari at 7:23 AM on January 27, 2010
The bird is called a hamsa, not a hamso. Sorry, typo. Okay, I'm done.
posted by amro at 7:24 AM on January 27, 2010
posted by amro at 7:24 AM on January 27, 2010
Yeah, in my haste I neglected to say in full - it is a talisman to ward against the evil eye. I have one permanently installed, and it works great.
posted by Meatbomb at 7:24 AM on January 27, 2010
posted by Meatbomb at 7:24 AM on January 27, 2010
http://www.jewfaq.org/signs.htm#Hand
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamsa
posted by Citrus at 8:00 AM on January 27, 2010
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamsa
posted by Citrus at 8:00 AM on January 27, 2010
Nthing hand of Fatima.
posted by mccarty.tim at 8:06 AM on January 27, 2010
posted by mccarty.tim at 8:06 AM on January 27, 2010
« Older Help me Understand my Grandfather's Military... | How long has half & half been around? Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Meatbomb at 7:19 AM on January 27, 2010