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It is sometimes accompanied or superseded by the "wounded heart" symbol, depicted as a heart symbol pierced with an arrow or as a heart symbol "broken" into two or more pieces, indicating lovesickness.
Heart-shaped peepal leaves were used in artistic depictions of the Indus Valley Civilization: a heart pendant originating from there has been discovered and is now exhibited in the Delhi national museum.[1]
In the 5th–6th century BC, the heart shape was used to represent the heart-shaped fruit of the silphium plant. A plant possibly used as a contraceptive.[3] Many species of plants in the parsley family have estrogenic properties.
Silver coins from Cyrene of the 5th–6th century BC, bear a similar design, sometimes accompanied by a silphium plant which was understood to represent its seed or fruit.
Featured: Samira 13, Iradj Moini, and others.
Research Credit: Wikipedia