19th Century North African Shaddai Hamsa Pendant

925 Sterling Silver

Size: 3cm x 2.5cm / 1.2" x 1"

This silver Hamsa pendant is an adaptation of a 19th century amulet discovered in North Africa. The short hand features five prominent, spiky fingers and bears two lines of text: the first reads Shaddai - a name for God which is evocative of mercy and compassion - and the second bears the Hebrew letters tzadik, mem, resh, caf and daled, an acronym formed from the last letters in the first five sentences of Genesis.

The Hamsa shape is a favorite in Muslim lands, and made its way into Jewish symbolism. Believed to have amuletic properties, the popular talisman is said to have protective powers which bring health and success to its wearer and their family.

This necklace is available with a silver chain in your choice of length. It comes with a certificate of authenticity from the Israel Museum, as well as a short explanation of its history in both English and Hebrew.

The Israel Museum, Jerusalem is among the world's most highly rated encyclopedic museums. It holds the biggest collection of ancient Israel and Bible Lands antiquities on the planet, and is home to groundbreaking archaeological discoveries such as the Dead Sea Scrolls. The museum creates replicas and adaptations of Jewish and Israeli artifacts from around the world; these unusual pieces make unique and wonderful gifts.