where did the symbol of a heart come from
Heart (symbol) Greek. In the 6th-5th century BC, the heart shape was used to represent the heart-shaped fruit of the plant Silphium,[1] a plant possibly used as a contraceptive [2] Many species in the parsley family have estrogenic properties, and some, such as wild carrot, were used to induce abortion.[3] Silver coins from Cyrene of the 6â€“5th BC bear a similar design, sometimes accompanied by a silphium plant and is understood to represent its seed or fruit.[4]