The hamsa is a palm-shaped amulet that is popular throughout North Africa and the Middle East and is commonly used in jewelry and wall hangings. It is an image recognized and used as a sign of protection in many times throughout history and has been traditionally believed to provide defense against the evil eye. The hamsa has been variously interpreted by scholars as a Jewish, Christian, or Islamic amulet, and as a pagan fertility symbol. The word "hamsa" or "hamesh" means five, representing the fingers of the right hand. The hamsa hand is highly stylized and often appears to consist of three fingers with two thumbs, one to either side of the downward cast digits. The hamsa is associated with different religious and cultural traditions, including Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. In Jewish culture, the hamsa is associated with the number five because of the five fingers depicted on the hand, and because its name is cognate to the Hebrew ḥamishah (חֲמִישָׁה), which also means five. In Muslim traditions, it is sometimes known as the Hand of Fatima, named for one of the prophet Muhammads daughters. The hamsa is believed to protect against the evil eye and all negative energies. It is a universal sign of protection, power, and strength that dates back to ancient Mesopotamia.