The heart symbol was likely never meant to be a heart
In short: We use the red, symmetrical heart to signal romantic love, but its origins are far more botanical. From ancient contraceptive seeds to medieval water-lily leaves, the shape we recognize today evolved through a series of unexpected transformations, far removed from the anatomy of the human organ.
While the modern heart symbol is an ideograph for emotion, its geometric ancestor was often foliage. In ancient times, the shape frequently represented fig leaves or the leaves of the water-lily, known in heraldry as 'seeblatt'. Even in early heraldic charges from the 12th century, such as those in the Danish royal banner, the shapes were likely stylized water-lily leaves rather than symbols of affection.
The connection to romance is a relatively recent development in history. The familiar 'scalloped' shape, with its characteristic indent at the base, only began to emerge in the early 14th century, appearing in works like Francesco da Barberino's 'Documenti d'amore' before 1320. The convention of the heart representing love became established in Europe during the 15th century and gained widespread popularity in the 16 and 17th centuries.
Speculative theories attempt to link this shape to the 5th–6th century BC Roman use of the silphium plant seed, which may have acted as a contraceptive or aphrodisiac. However, historians note that no direct continuity can be proven between these ancient botanical marks and the late medieval tradition. Other historical uses were even more diverse: in Japan, the 'Inome' pattern—resembling a wild boar's eye—was used on sword guards (tsuba) from the 6th to 7th centuries to ward off evil spirits, while in Scandinavia, heart-shaped holes were traditionally used for ventilation in outdoor toilets.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Heart symbol
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