<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><mads xmlns="http://www.loc.gov/mads/" xmlns:mods="http://www.loc.gov/mods/v3" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.loc.gov/mads/
mads.xsd"><authority><topic authority="http://AATesaurus.cultura.gencat.cat/aat/getty_en">khamsa</topic></authority><related type="broader"><topic>figure- and animal-derived motifs</topic></related><variant type="other"><topic>hand of Fatima</topic></variant><variant type="other"><topic>hand of Fatimah</topic></variant><variant type="other"><topic>hand of Miriam</topic></variant><variant type="other"><topic>khamsas</topic></variant><variant type="other"><topic>khomsa</topic></variant><variant type="other"><topic>xomsa</topic></variant><variant type="other"><topic>chamesh</topic></variant><variant type="other"><topic>hamesh</topic></variant><variant type="other"><topic>hamsa</topic></variant><variant type="other"><topic>hand amulet</topic></variant> <note xml:lang="en"><![CDATA[ Middle Eastern and North African motif in the form of a stylized handprint with an eye in the center, generally associated with good health and warding off evil. The so-called "hand" is generally symmetrical with two small "thumbs" on each side rather than a little finger on one side. The motif is most often seen in modern times in Jewish and Islamic jewelry and decorations at doors, but it pre-dates both Islam and Judaism. It may have developed from a symbol for a vagina, referring to the Punic goddess, Tanit, influenced by the palmette motif and joined with the Ancient Egyptian eye of Horus motif. ]]></note></mads>