The manus fica (“fig sign”) gesture, popular especially in Italy and southern Europe (even Turkey), dates back to the times of ancient Rome. The gesture consists of placing the hand in such a way that the thumb is between the index and middle fingers.
It has been used and is used in various ways: to ward off evil, to offend someone, or to deny a request. In ancient Rome, the gesture was mainly made by pater familias, the father of the family, who thus chased away evil spirits during the Lemuria celebrations.
This type of gesture was found on many pendants hung around the neck, and next to, for example, the image of a phallus, it was supposed to bring happiness to the wearer.
