<P> The heart shape (♥) is an ideograph used to express the idea of the "heart" in its metaphorical or symbolic sense as the center of emotion, including affection and love, especially romantic love . </P> <P> The "wounded heart" indicating lovesickness came to be depicted as a heart symbol pierced with an arrow (Cupid's), or heart symbol "broken" in two or more pieces . </P> <P> Greek . In the 6th - 5th century BC, the heart shape was used to represent the heart - shaped fruit of the plant Silphium, a plant possibly used as a contraceptive Many species in the parsley family have estrogenic properties, and some, such as wild carrot, were used to induce abortion . Silver coins from Cyrene of the 6--5th BC bear a similar design, sometimes accompanied by a silphium plant and is understood to represent its seed or fruit . </P> <P> The combination of the heart shape and its use within the heart metaphor developed at the end of the Middle Ages, although the shape has been used in many ancient epigraphy monuments and texts . With possible early examples or direct predecessors in the 13th to 14th century, the familiar symbol of the heart representing love developed in the 15th century, and became popular in Europe during the 16th . Before the 14th century, the heart shape was not associated with the meaning of the heart metaphor . The geometric shape itself is found in much earlier sources, but in such instances does not depict a heart, but typically foliage: in examples from antiquity fig leaves, and in medieval iconography and heraldry typically the leaves of ivy and of the water - lily . One possible early use in the 11th century could be found in the manuscript, Al - Maqamat written by Al Hariri of Basra . The manuscript includes an illustration of a farewell greeting between two men while astride their camels, with the heart shape seen prominently over their heads . </P>

Where did the symbol of a heart come from