Where Did the Heart Shape Originate?

Sometimes used for birth control, silphium was first associated with sex and later became a symbol of love. This plant was so important to the economy of Cyrene that it was minted on their currency.

The Catholic Church states that the modern heart shape originated with a story of Saint Mary Margaret Alocoque, who had a vision of a heart surrounded by thorns. This symbol became known as the Sacred Heart of Jesus.