No. 5

° Almost all amphibians, reptiles and mammals which have fingers or toes have five of them on each extremity.

° In Greek Orthodox Christian mysticism, the number 5 symbolizes the Holy Spirit as the bearer of all life.

° The Khamsa, an ancient symbol shaped like a hand with five fingers, is used as a protective amulet by Jews.

° According to some traditions of Maya mythology, we are now living in the Fifth World.

° Modern musical notation uses a musical staff made of five horizontal lines.

° In the United States legal system, the Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution can be referred to in court as "pleading the fifth", absolving the defendant from self-incrimination.

° The five basic tastes are sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami.

° No. 5, 1948 is an abstract painting by Jackson Pollock.

° According to one story of the creation of Chanel No. 5, Coco Chanel commissioned the renowned perfumer Ernest Beaux to make six perfumes for her choosing. They were labelled No. 1, No. 2, etc. through No. 6. (Breaux himself, q.v., relates a slightly different version of the story). It was bottle No. 5 that was to Chanel's liking and became the chosen formula. The number "5" was also her lucky number.