Where does the heart symbol come from? There are so many theories, from Greek to Egyptian culture, from the Middle Ages to the first French playing cards. What is certain is that the symbol of the heart is understood in all cultures and that it is the greatest sign of love and affection. That is why in Planderful there is always a very special part dedicated to the heart and its symbolism.
The heart is an element full of meaning, which is why it is one of the infallible in jewelry. Jewels are more than just fashion or design, they also complement your personality with which we show the world how we are and how we feel. The same happens when we give a jewel with a heart, it is a sign of love and affection, as we said before, but also of friendship, femininity and feelings. It is a symbol full of emotions.
A brief history of the origin of the heart symbol
The first civilization that graphically used the heart was the Egyptian, a symbol very different from the one that exists today. The Egyptians already knew how important the heart was and its relationship with the rest of the body since it was where the mind and souls of people were located. Furthermore, they believed that when they died their heart was weighed against the feather of the truth of the god Maat and if they had led a good life the heart would weigh the same as the feather and that individual would enjoy eternal life.
After the Egyptians, it was the Greek colony of Cyrene that created the symbol of the heart as it is known today. The symbol represents the leaf of the Silphium plant, which was used as a contraceptive, therefore, historians believe it was related to love and sexuality.
In the Middle Ages, the image of the red heart became popular in Europe and today fills millions of greeting cards. Although, as there is no proven relationship that exists with the symbol used in Cyrene, historians have determined several additional theories, almost all, related to the woman's body depending on how it is viewed.
Although these modern theories are speculative as they have been proposed since the 1960s, therefore, there is no continuity between the supposed ancestors and the medieval tradition. Another representation of the tantric symbol Ioni is related to the symbol of the heart and assigns similarities to the woman's body.
Why do we draw the heart as we do
According to the information we have to date, the first civilization that used a symbol similar to the one we use today to represent the heart was Egyptian. It is well known that Egyptian writing was hieroglyphic, that is, they used drawings and symbols to represent words. The ideogram used by the Egyptians to represent the heart, and still retains some resemblance to the original heart, in fact, you can see represented by the auricles, but also reminiscent of the symbol so famous today with which we draw the heart.
The most realistic theory, and the one that is closest to the truth, is that the heart drawing has been nothing more than a reinterpretation carried out by different artists over the years, which, due to its aesthetics, has made a fortune. The most convincing theory is that it is a schematic and practical representation, in order to draw an organ that in many cultures has a very deep meaning and is very difficult to represent in a realistic way.
On the other hand, a realistic heart is surely at the antipodes of the romantic. Thus, the heart as we draw it is a symbol that schematically represents the organ of love, but it does not have to have a definite origin.
The importance we give to the symbol of the heart
Little by little, the heart has reached everywhere to the point that the most emblematic bridges of Rome, Paris, and Venice are full of this symbol that tries to express eternal love.
It is therefore logical that jewelers have been inspired by this type of piece so that family, friends, partners, children, or anyone can say "I love you". The pieces we wear and choose represent before others, our ideas and the vision we have of life.
Likewise, wearing a heart between our hands or on our chest is a clear symbol that someone loves us and protects us. This is the reason why jewelry and the symbol of the heart always go together and form a perfect union. We recommend you to take a look at our initial pendant; the clover, flower, and heart pendant; the elegant gold heart pendant, or if you prefer, customize your piece. Undoubtedly, a detail with which you will always succeed.
Our Jewelry
The romantic character of the heart symbol does not make it a jewel to give only on Valentine's Day or to wear it on special occasions. It is the most universal symbol, it is everywhere and it is an element full of personality and meaning forever.
Pendants may be the jewelry in which the heart is more universal, but certainly not the only ones. We at Planderful are in love with the new earrings for everyday wear, like Red Heart Balloon Enamel with Pearl Silver Earrings, or the Colorful Heart Balloon Enamel Silver Studs Earrings. Fun and unique, that you can combine it with bracelets.
You can't miss minimalist jewelry with a heart motif. If you want you can also opt for options with more glitter for your unforgettable evenings.
The symbol of the heart has to be in that particular treasure which is our jewelry box. Always in fashion, always ideal with every look. Undoubtedly a safe bet of which we are in love. In Planderful you will always find jewelry with the heart symbol, because what would we do without love?
