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]
Christian cross During the first two centuries of Christianity, the cross was rare in Christian iconography, as it depicts a purposely painful and gruesome method of public execution and Christians were reluctant to use it.[1] A symbol similar to the cross, the staurogram, was used to abbreviate the Greek word for cross in very early New Testament manuscripts such as P66, P45 and P75, almost like a nomen sacrum (nomina sacra).[6] The extensive adoption of the cross as Christian iconographic symbol arose from the 4th century.[7]