January & February 2022 Newsletter
Origins of the Heart/Love Symbol
Heart Symbol Timeline
300-100 BC- In India the Gold and Faience Heart-Shaped Pendant was created.
Late 9th & Early 8th Century to 146 BC- A city-state in Northern Africa used silphium, a species of giant fennel with heart-shaped seeds, as a contraceptive and used the image on its coins.
4th Century BC- Greek philosophers believed the heart was the center of the soul and governed emotions.
2nd Century AD- The Greek physician and father of medicine Galen described the heart as a three-chambered organ shaped like a pine cone and graphically depicted upside down.
476to 1453 AD- Medieval lords used the heart symbol in Coat of Arms but the Medieval concept of courtly love spurred heart illustrations that glorified romance.
496 AD- Valentine’s Day was observed to honor the martyred saint who assisted lovers and married them secretly.
15th Century AD- The heart image, now inverted, appeared on playing cards in Europe.
1673- French nun and Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque envisioned Jesus’ Sacred Heart.
17th Century AD- The English began using simple love notes adorned with hearts to commemorate Valentine's Day.
1977- The heart became a verb on "I ♥ NY" T-shirt in the United States.
1965 to Present- Video game developers used hearts to measure lives in video games and the heart symbol has become a way of expressing emotions all across the Internet.
Megan D Robinson writes for Art & Object and the Iowa Source. “The History of the Heart Shape.” Art & Object, 22 Jan. 2021, https://www.artandobject.com/news/history-heart-shape.
https://www.athenasilversmith.com/pages/valentines-day-gift-ideas
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Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022, 10:30 am - 2 :30 pm - Latin America Market, Centennial Plaza, 301 W. Bagdad Ave., Round Rock, Texas
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