Soulmate Gem
Photo by Karolina Grabowska Pexels Logo Photo: Karolina Grabowska

Why ❤ is called heart?

In the 5th–6th century BC, the heart shape was used to represent the heart-shaped fruit of the plant silphium, a plant possibly used as a contraceptive and an aphrodisiac.

en.wikipedia.org - Heart symbol - Wikipedia
Which zodiac is into fitness?
Which zodiac is into fitness?

Virgos are majorly into workouts and love staying fit and active. They believe that the body is a temple and they need to take utmost care of it....

Read More »
Last updated Oct 13, 2021
Do souls find each other?
Do souls find each other?

Some people experience immediate soul recognition, where both souls recognise each other. They experience a sudden feeling of familiarity even if...

Read More »
Last updated Nov 4, 2022

Symbol representing the heart

This article is about the graphical symbol. For the symbolic or metaphorical use of the word, see Heart § Symbolism Conventional heart symbol A heart symbol pierced with an arrow, symbolizing romantic love (being lovestruck , or the pain of lovesickness A typical depiction of the Sacred Heart (often shown with other attributes, e.g. surmounted by a cross, pierced by nails or swords, etc.) The heart symbol is an ideograph used to express the idea of the "heart" in its metaphorical or symbolic sense. Represented by an anatomically inaccurate shape, the heart symbol is often used to represent the center of emotion, including affection and love, especially romantic love. It is sometimes accompanied or superseded by the "wounded heart" symbol, depicted as a heart symbol pierced with an arrow or as a heart symbol "broken" into two or more pieces, indicating lovesickness.

History [ edit ]

Similar shapes from antiquity [ edit ]

Peepal leaves were used in artistic depictions of the Indus Valley civilisation: a heart-shaped pendant originating from there has been discovered and is now exhibited in the National Museum of India.[1] In the 5th–6th century BC, the heart shape was used to represent the heart-shaped fruit of the plant silphium,[2] a plant possibly used as a contraceptive and an aphrodisiac.[3][4] Silver coins from Cyrene of the 5th–6th century BC bear a similar design, sometimes accompanied by a silphium plant and is understood to represent its seed or fruit.[5] Since ancient times in Japan, the heart symbol has been called Inome (猪目) meaning the eye of a wild boar, and it has the meaning of warding off evil spirits. The decorations are used to decorate Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples, castles and weapons.[6][7] The oldest examples of this pattern are seen in some of the Japanese original tsuba (sword guard) of the style called toran gata tsuba (lit., inverted egg shaped tsuba) that were attached to swords from the sixth to seventh centuries, and part of the tsuba was hollowed out in the shape of a heart symbol.[8][9]

Earliest use [ edit ]

The combination of the heart shape and its use within the heart metaphor was developed in the end of the Middle Ages, although the shape has been used in many ancient epigraphy monuments and texts. With possible early examples or direct predecessors in the 13th to 14th century, the familiar symbol of the heart representing love developed in the 15th century, and became popular in Europe during the 16th.[10] Before the 14th century, the heart shape was not associated with the meaning of the heart metaphor. The geometric shape itself is found in much earlier sources, but in such instances does not depict a heart, but typically foliage: in examples from antiquity fig leaves, and in medieval iconography and heraldry typically the leaves of ivy and of the water-lily. The first known depiction of a heart as a symbol of romantic love dates to the 1250s. It occurs in a miniature decorating a capital 'S' in a manuscript of the French Roman de la poire.[11] In the miniature a kneeling lover (or more precisely, an allegory of the lover's "sweet gaze" or doux regard) offers his heart to a damsel. The heart here resembles a pine cone (held "upside down", the point facing upward), in accord with medieval anatomical descriptions. However, in this miniature what suggests a heart shape is only the result of a lover's finger superimposed on an object; the full shape outline of the object is partly hidden, and therefore unknown. Moreover, the French title of the manuscript that features the miniature translates into "Novel Of The Pear" in English. Thus the heart shaped object would be a pear; the conclusion that a pear represents a heart is dubious. Opinions therefore differ over this being the first depiction of a heart as symbol of romantic love.[12] Giotto in his 1305 painting in the Scrovegni Chapel (Padua) shows an allegory of charity (caritas) handing her heart to Jesus Christ. This heart is also depicted in the pine cone shape based on anatomical descriptions of the day (still held "upside down"). Giotto's painting exerted considerable influence on later painters, and the motive of Caritas offering a heart is shown by Taddeo Gaddi in Santa Croce, by Andrea Pisano on the bronze door of the south porch of the Florence Baptistery ( c. 1337), by Ambrogio Lorenzetti in the Palazzo Publico in Siena ( c. 1340) and by Andrea da Firenze in Santa Maria Novella in Florence ( c. 1365). The convention of showing the heart point upward switches in the late 14th century and becomes rare in the first half of the 15th century.[12] The "scalloped" shape of the now-familiar heart symbol, with a dent in its base, arises in the early 14th century, at first only lightly dented, as in the miniatures in Francesco da Barberino's Documenti d'amore (before 1320). A slightly later example with a more pronounced dent is found in a manuscript from the Cistercian monastery in Brussels.[13] The convention of showing a dent at the base of the heart thus spread at about the same time as the convention of showing the heart with its point downward.[14] The modern indented red heart has been used on playing cards since the late 15th century.[15] Various hypotheses attempted to connect the "heart shape" as it evolved in the Late Middle Ages with instances of the geometric shape in antiquity.[16] Such theories are modern, proposed from the 1960s onward, and they remain speculative, as no continuity between the supposed ancient predecessors and the late medieval tradition can be shown. Specific suggestions include: the shape of the seed of the silphium plant, used in ancient times as an herbal contraceptive,[16][17] and stylized depictions of features of the human female body, such as the female's breasts, buttocks, pubic mound, or spread vulva.[18]

What is a pure soul?
What is a pure soul?

From areligious and philosophical standpoint, a soul is considered the essence of a human being. It's something that gives us individuality and...

Read More »
Last updated Mar 13, 2018
What are the 5 C's of marriage?
What are the 5 C's of marriage?

So take them in the spirit in which they are offered, which is a lens to think about your own relationship. This blog is the first of a series on...

Read More »
Last updated Jul 1, 2022

The earliest known possible visual depiction of a heart symbol, as a lover hands his heart to the beloved lady, in a manuscript of the Roman de la poire , 13th century. Giotto's allegory of charity handing her heart to Jesus Christ ( c. 1305)

Charity on the south doors of the Florence Baptistery ( c. 1336)

Renaissance and early modern [ edit ]

Heart shapes can be seen on various stucco reliefs and wall panels excavated from the ruins of Ctesiphon, the Persian capital ( c. 90 BC – 637 AD).[19][20][21] [22] A heart symbol from the Achaemenid period, in the Louvre Museum, made of ivory. [23][24] with one heart symbol top of them.[25] A sasanian-style textile from first century AH that shows two winged horses with one heart symbol top of them. The Luther rose was the seal that was designed for Martin Luther at the behest of Prince John Frederick, in 1530, while Luther was staying at the Coburg Fortress during the Diet of Augsburg. Luther wrote an explanation of the symbol to Lazarus Spengler: "a black cross in a heart, which retains its natural color, so that I myself would be reminded that faith in the Crucified saves us. 'For one who believes from the heart will be justified' (Romans 10:10)."[26][unreliable source?] The aorta remains visible, as a protrusion at the top centered between the two "chambers" indicated in the symbol, in some depictions of the Sacred Heart well into the 18th century, and is partly still shown today (although mostly obscured by elements such as a crown, flames, rays, or a cross) but the "hearts" suit did not have this element since the 15th century.

Modern [ edit ]

Since the 19th century, the symbol has often been used on Valentine's Day cards, candy boxes, and similar popular culture artifacts as a symbol of romantic love. The use of the heart symbol as a logograph for the English verb "to love" derives from the use in "I ♥ NY," introduced in 1977.[29] Heart symbols are frequently used to symbolize "health" or "lives" in video games. Super Mario Bros. 2 (1987, 1988) had a "life bar" composed of hexagons, but in 1990s remakes of these games, the hexagons were replaced by heart shapes (the Castlevania franchise being a notable exception, where the hearts are ammunition for the secondary weapons instead of representing health). Since the 1990s, the heart symbol has also been used as an ideogram indicating health outside of the video gaming context, e.g. its use by restaurants to indicate heart-healthy nutrient content claim (e.g. "low in cholesterol"). A copyrighted "heart-check" symbol to indicate heart-healthy food was introduced by the American Heart Association in 1995.[30]

A heart-shaped "Map of Woman's Heart" (1830s)

Two burning hearts, coloured pink, illustration on a Victorian-era Valentine's Day card.

A "Vinegar Valentine" card from the 1870s, with a red heart symbol pierced by six arrows.

The traditional "heart shape" appears on a 1910 Valentine's Day card.

Sheet music cover of "Look in His Eyes", from the musical Have a Heart (1913).

Magazine advertisement for the silent film The Orderly (1921).

Wedding rings of a groom and bride with shadow in form of heart - symbolic of love.

Heraldry [ edit ]

en surtout. "Heart field" or "heart shield" are terms for an inescutcheon placed

A heart pictured in the coat of arms of the Laukaa municipality

The earliest heart-shaped charges in heraldry appear in the 12th century; the hearts in the coat of arms of Denmark go back to the royal banner of the kings of Denmark, in turn based on a seal used as early as the 1190s. However, while the charges are clearly heart-shaped, they did not depict hearts in origin, or symbolize any idea related to love. Instead, they are assumed to have depicted the leaves of the water-lily. Early heraldic heart-shaped charges depicting the leaves of water-lilies are found in various other designs related to territories close to rivers or a coastline (e.g. Flags of Frisia). Inverted heart symbols have been used in heraldry as stylized testicles (coglioni in Italian) as in the canting arms of the Colleoni family of Milan.[32] A seal attributed to William, Lord of Douglas (of 1333) shows a heart shape, identified as the heart of Robert the Bruce. The authenticity of this seal is "very questionable",[33] i.e. it could possibly date to the late 14th or even the 15th century.[34] Heraldic charges actually representing hearts became more common in the early modern period, with the Sacred Heart depicted in ecclesiastical heraldry, and hearts representing love appearing in bourgeois coats of arms. Hearts also later became popular elements in municipal coats of arms.

Botanical symbolism [ edit ]

What is Empress Energy?
What is Empress Energy?

The Empress fully embodies her feminine energy, and she's here to help you embrace your feminine side. Femininity has nothing to do with gender and...

Read More »
Last updated Oct 14, 2020
How do you make a new friend feel special?
How do you make a new friend feel special?

We have a few suggestions: Make them their favorite food. Sweets are usually a good bet. Surprise them with a gift. ... Learn something new...

Read More »
Last updated Apr 26, 2020

There has been some conjecture regarding the link between the traditional heart symbol and images of the fruit of silphium, a (probably) extinct plant known to classical antiquity and belonging to the genus Ferula, used as a condiment and medicine, (the medicinal properties including contraceptive and abortifacient activity, linking the plant to sexuality and love).[35] Silver coins from the ancient Libya of the 6th to 5th centuries BC bear images strongly reminiscent of the heart symbol, sometimes accompanied by images of the silphium plant.[36][37] The related Ferula species asafoetida - which was actually used as an inferior substitute for silphium - is regarded as an aphrodisiac in Tibet and India, suggesting yet a third amatory association relating to silphium.[38] Ancient silver coin from Cyrene, Libya depicting the heart-shaped 'seed' (actually fruit) of silphium. Example of a heart-shaped mericarp fruit in a plant ( Heracleum sphondylium ) belonging, like the unidentified silphium, to the parsley family, Apiaceae. Ferula assa-foetida a species of giant fennel belonging to the same genus as the ancient silphium and regarded as having similar properties, while being an inferior substitute for the plant.

Ferula tingitana: a possible identity for silphium.

Encoding [ edit ]

A common emoticon for the heart is <3. In Unicode several heart symbols are available in text format: Glyph Description HTML code Alt codes ❦ U+2766 FLORAL HEART ❦ ❧ U+2767 ROTATED FLORAL HEART BULLET ❧ ☙ U+2619 REVERSED ROTATED FLORAL HEART BULLET ☙ ♡ U+2661 WHITE HEART SUIT ♡ or ♡ ♥ U+2665 BLACK HEART SUIT in device default representation ♥ or ♥ or ♥ Alt + 3 ♥︎ U+2665 BLACK HEART SUIT in explicit plaintext representation ♥︎ ♥️ U+2665 BLACK HEART SUIT in explicit emoji representation ♥️ ❤ U+2764 HEAVY BLACK HEART in device default representation ❤ or ❤ ❤︎ U+2764 HEAVY BLACK HEART in explicit plaintext representation ❤︎ ❤️ U+2764 HEAVY BLACK HEART in explicit emoji representation ❤️ ❥ U+2765 ROTATED HEAVY BLACK HEART BULLET ❥ or ❥ ❣ U+2763 HEAVY HEART EXCLAMATION MARK ORNAMENT ❣ or ❣ And from the Miscellaneous Symbols and Pictographs and Supplemental Symbols and Pictographs ranges associated with emoji: Glyph Description HTML code 🎔 U+1F394 HEART WITH TIP ON THE LEFT 🎔 💑 U+1F491 COUPLE WITH HEART 💑 💒 U+1F492 WEDDING 💒 💓 U+1F493 BEATING HEART 💓 💔 U+1F494 BROKEN HEART 💔 💕 U+1F495 TWO HEARTS 💕 💖 U+1F496 SPARKLING HEART 💖 💗 U+1F497 GROWING HEART 💗 💘 U+1F498 HEART WITH ARROW 💘 💙 U+1F499 BLUE HEART 💙 Glyph Description HTML code 💚 U+1F49A GREEN HEART 💚 💛 U+1F49B YELLOW HEART 💛 💜 U+1F49C PURPLE HEART 💜 💝 U+1F49D HEART WITH RIBBON 💝 💞 U+1F49E REVOLVING HEARTS 💞 💟 U+1F49F HEART DECORATION 💟 🖤 U+1F5A4 BLACK HEART 🖤 🤍 U+1F90D WHITE HEART 🤍 🤎 U+1F90E BROWN HEART 🤎 🧡 U+1F9E1 ORANGE HEART 🧡 In Code page 437, the original character set of the IBM PC, the value of 3 (hexadecimal 03) represents the heart symbol. This value is shared with the non-printing ETX control character, which overrides the glyph in many contexts.

Parametrisation [ edit ]

A number of parametrisations of approximately heart-shaped curves have been described. The best-known of these is the cardioid, which is an epicycloid with one cusp;[39] though as the cardioid lacks the point, it may be seen as a stylized water-lily leaf, a so-called seeblatt, rather than a heart. Other curves, such as the implicit curve (x2+y2−1)3−x2y3=0, may produce better approximations of the heart shape.[40]

A cardioid generated by a rolling circle

(animated) Implicit heart curve

(x2 + y2 − 1)3 − x2y3 = 0

( 16 sin 3 ⁡ t 13 cos ⁡ t − 5 cos ⁡ 2 t − 2 cos ⁡ 3 t − cos ⁡ 4 t ) {\displaystyle \textstyle {\binom {16\sin ^{\scriptscriptstyle 3}t}{13\cos {}t-5\cos 2t-2\cos 3t-\cos 4t}}} Parametric plot of the curve Implicit heart surface Simple form made from two perpendicular lines and two circular arcs.

Heart curve on TI-89 graphing calculator

Parametric equation of heart curve on TI-89 graphing calculator

See also [ edit ]

Cordata, Cordatum and Cordatus, Latin adjectives meaning heart-shaped

Passion (emotion), or passionate love

Seeblatt, a symbol of a water lily leaf that resembles a heart

Heart in hand – Symbol of charity

References [ edit ]

Inline citations [ edit ]

Works cited [ edit ]

, Oxford University Press, 2011, 81–113. P. J. Vinken (2000), The Shape of the Heart: A Contribution to the Iconology of the Heart (illustrated ed.), Elsevier Health Sciences, ISBN 978-0-444-82987-0

General references [ edit ]

en.wikipedia.org - Heart symbol - Wikipedia
Which age girl is best for marriage?
Which age girl is best for marriage?

New data being released from that poll finds that the average American believes that 25 is the ideal age for a woman to get married, while the...

Read More »
Last updated Aug 3, 2020
What age do Cancers fall in love?
What age do Cancers fall in love?

What age will Cancer find love? Sensitive Between the ages of 15 and 20, Cancer meets its partner. From a young age, cancers fantasise about the...

Read More »
Last updated May 26, 2018
Is 14 too late to learn a language?
Is 14 too late to learn a language?

No matter how old you are, you're never too old to learn a new language. However, because your brain's ability to adapt and change decreases over...

Read More »
Last updated Aug 19, 2020
What is the secret to a strong friendship?
What is the secret to a strong friendship?

1. Trust. Being able to have trust and confidence in your friend is one of the most important requirements of a strong relationship because true...

Read More »
Last updated Jan 29, 2020