Heart (symbol)
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2008-07-08T00:37:17Z
Lankiveil
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Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/72.28.171.28|72.28.171.28]] to last version by AnonMoos (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]])
{{Mergefrom|heart (anthropology)|date=March 2008}}
[[Image:BigPinkHeart.jpg|thumb|The traditional "heart shape" appears on a [[1910]] [[St. Valentine's Day]] card.]]
The '''heart''' has long been used as a [[symbol]] to refer to the [[spirituality|spiritual]], [[emotion]]al, [[morality|moral]], and in the past also [[intelligence (trait)|intellectual]] core of a human being. As the [[heart]] was once widely believed to be the seat of the human [[mind]], the word ''heart'' continues to be used poetically to refer to the [[soul]], and stylized depictions of hearts are extremely prevalent symbols representing [[love]].
==As metaphor==
===In mythology, spirituality and religion===
In religious texts the heart has historically been ascribed much mystical significance, either as [[metaphor]] or as an organ genuinely believed to have spiritual or divine attributes.
In [[Egyptian mythology]], the [[Egyptian soul#Ib (heart)|heart portion of the soul]] was weighed in a balance against the [[feather]] of [[Ma'at]], symbolising [[truth]], in the judgment of the dead in the Egyptian ''[[Book of the Dead]]''. Egyptian sources do not actually reveal whether the heart had to be lighter or heavier than the feather for the deceased to pass into paradise - all depictions show only the weighing of the heart, not the actual results, heavier or lighter.
Similarly, in the Bible, this idea emerges in the earliest passages; [[Genesis]] 6:5 situates the thoughts of evil men in their hearts, and [[Exodus]] 5 through 12 speak repeatedly of the Lord "hardening [[Pharaoh (Book of Abraham)|Pharaoh]]'s heart." By this it is meant that God made Pharaoh resolve not to let the Israelite slaves leave Egypt, in order to bring judgment against Pharaoh and demonstrate his power: "'Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these miraculous signs of mine among them'" (Exodus 10:1). In the [[Book of Jeremiah]] 17:9, it is written that the Lord is the judge who "tries" the human heart.
The [[Sacred Heart of Jesus]] and the [[Immaculate Heart of Mary]] are traditional [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] [[devotion]]al images.
[[Image:Corazón.svg|thumb|right|128px|European traditional heart symbol.]]
===In early science and philosophy===
Many [[classical antiquity|classical]] philosophers and scientists, including [[Aristotle]], considered the heart the seat of [[thought]], [[reason]] or [[emotion]], often rejecting the value of the [[brain]].
The [[Stoicism|Stoics]] taught that the heart was the seat of the human soul.
The [[Roman Empire|Roman]] physician [[Galen]] located the seat of the passions in the [[liver]], the seat of reason in the [[brain]], and considered the heart to be the seat of the [[emotion]]s. While Galen's identification of the heart with emotion were proposed as a part of his theory of the [[circulatory system]], the heart has continued to be used as a symbolic source of human emotions even after the rejection of such beliefs.
These themes were reiterated in the European [[Middle Ages]].
==As icon==
{{Unreferencedsection|date=December 2007}}
In [[Europe]]an traditional art and folklore, the heart symbol is drawn in a stylized shape. This shape is typically colored [[red]], suggesting both [[blood]] and, in many cultures, passion and strong emotion. The [[hearts (suit)|hearts]] have constituted, since the [[15th century]], one of the red [[suit (cards)|suits]] in most [[playing card]] decks. The shape is particularly associated with [[romantic love]]; it is often seen on [[St. Valentine's Day]] [[greeting card|cards]], [[candy]] boxes, and similar [[popular culture]] artifacts as a symbol of [[romantic love]].
{{Hiero|''[[Ab (Egyptian heart-soul concept)|jb]]'' (F34) "heart"|<hiero>F34</hiero>|align=right|era=egypt}}
What the traditional "heart shape" actually depicts is a matter of some controversy. It only vaguely resembles the human heart. Some people claim that it actually depicts the heart of a cow, a more readily available sight to most people in past centuries than an actual human heart. However, while bovine hearts are more similar to the iconic heart shape, the resemblance is still slight.
The "heart" shape could also be considered to depict features of the human female body, such as the female's [[mons pubis|pubic mound]] or spread [[vulva]]. The tantric symbol of the "[[Yoni]]" is another example of a heart-shaped abstraction of a woman's vulva. In the introduction to ''[[The Vagina Monologues]]'' [[Gloria Steinem]] writes, "[The heart] was reduced from power to romance by centuries of male dominance."
Others maintain that the heart resembles the shape of the female [[breast]]s or the female [[buttock]]s.{{Who|date=June 2008}}
[[Image:Cyrenecoin.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Ancient silver coin from [[Cyrene, Libya|Cyrene]] depicting a [[silphium]] seed or fruit.]]
Another possible origin can be seen on the coins of the ancient city of [[Cyrene, Libya|Cyrene]], some of which depict the seeds or fruit of the now-extinct [[silphium]] plant. The seeds are distinctly heart-shaped. Since this plant was widely used as an ancient [[herbal contraceptive]] or ''abortifacient'', this shape may have come to be associated with sexuality and [[love]].{{Fact|date=June 2008}}
The "heart" shape is formed by the back and wings of a [[dove]]{{Fact|date=June 2008}}, which was associated with [[Aphrodite]], the ancient [[Greek mythology|Greek]] [[goddess]] of [[love]].
The most common [[emoticon]] for the heart is <tt><3</tt>. In [[Unicode]], the heart symbol ("BLACK HEART SUIT") is U+2665, and it can thus be generated in [[HTML]] by typing &#x2665; or &#9829;, or by the HTML entity &hearts; (♥). An unfilled heart symbol ("WHITE HEART SUIT", {{Unicode|♡}}) is U+2661, or &#x2661; or &#9825;.
=="I Love..."==
The heart symbol ({{unicode|♥}}) is used in slang expressions to indicate [[love]] or [[affection]], sometimes with a connotation that the feeling is superficial or juvenile. It is a play upon [[Milton Glaser]]'s classic [[I Love New York]] logo (typeset "I {{unicode|♥}} NY"). In the U.S., it can be used to show that one has a crush on someone or is in love with someone (i.e. "I {{unicode|♥}} [someone's name]" or "[Someone] {{unicode|♥}}s [Someone else]"). It is also present in some recent titles, e.g. the film ''[[I Heart Huckabees]]'' or the video game ''[[We Love Katamari]]''.
The widespread use of this expression has inspired many parodies. Originally pronounced "I love", [[hipster]]s have taken to facetiously verbalizing it as "I heart". Other examples include:
* Parody [[bumper sticker]]s have included:
** "I ♠ My Cat" for "I Spayed My Cat" (using "[[Spades (suit)|♠]]" = "spade" as a homophone and common pun for "[[Spaying and neutering|spayed]]")
** "I ♣ Seals" for "I Club Seals" (using "[[Clubs (suit)|♣]]" = "club" referring to [[Seal hunting|seal clubbing]]).
* A ''[[The Far Side]]'' cartoon by [[Gary Larson]] pictured [[Godzilla]] driving a car with an "I 8 NY" bumper sticker (8 meaning ate).
==Additional images==
<gallery>
Image:SwansHeart.jpg| Mating [[Mute Swan]]s may appear to make a [[negative space]] heart.
Image:HeartCarvedInTrea.jpg | Heart carved in tree
</gallery>
==References==
*[http://www.slate.com/id/2159800/?GT1=9129 The Shape of My Heart: Where did the ubiquitous Valentine's symbol come from?] by Keelin McDonell, [[Slate (magazine)|Slate.com]].
*[http://www.heartsymbol.com www.heartsymbol.com: The Heart Symbol - Origin, History And Significance] by Prof. [[Armin Dietz]]
== External links ==
{{commonscat|Heart symbols}}
[[Category:Metaphors]]
[[Category:Romance]]
[[Category:Slang expressions]]
[[Category:Symbols]]
[[ca:Cor (símbol)]]
[[cs:Srdce (symbol)]]
[[da:Hjerte (symbol)]]
[[de:Herz (Symbol)]]
[[fr:Cœur (symbole)]]
[[he:לב (סמל)]]
[[ja:ハート (シンボル)]]
[[no:Hjerte (symbol)]]
[[pl:Serce (symbol)]]
[[ru:Символ сердца]]
[[fi:Sydän (kulttuuri)]]
[[sv:Hjärta (symbol)]]
[[tr:Kalp (sembol)]]
[[zh:心形符號]]