Quote:
Originally Posted by Talk Host
The traditional heart shape was derived from the plant seed of the Silphium plant. This now extinct (for over two millennia) North African plant was found in the ancient city of Cyrene during the seventh century BC. The plant was most commonly used as seasonings, but was also widely used as a contraceptive in ancient Egypt. Because of it's importance to their economy, they depicted the shape of the seed on their coins. The seeds were distinctly heart-shaped. It is said that because of the use of the plant as a contraceptive, the shape of the seeds became associated with sexuality and eventually with romantic love.
Image of a Cyrene coin from 7th Century BC
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Does anyone besides me see a dog's face in the upper left portion of the heart in this image?
p.s., Thanks for the interesting link, TH