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| The Art of the Heart |
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Evidence of its use can be seen as far back as the Middle Ages. On an ancient Greek amphora (jar), hearts represented leaves on Dionysus’ wreath; however, the association with Eros, god of sexual love, and Cupid, his Roman counterpart, has prevailed today. The Catholic Church has stated that the Sacred Heart, a heart surrounded by a crown of thorns, came as a vision to St. Margaret Marie Alacoque in the late 17th century. There is some evidence that it was in use centuries earlier, as it is incorporated in stained glass windows and cloister decorations. Christians believe it is a representation of Jesus’ soul. The Egyptian myth is that the ab or “heart soul” bears a remarkable resemblance to the depictions in the Christian stained glass. The tale of the ab is that it’s one of the Egyptian’s seven souls that came directly from the mother’s heart, in the form of holy lunar blood and would descend to the womb and take the shape of her child. The most fascinating explanation for the shape is found in ancient Africa. In the seventh century BC, in the city-state of Cyrene, there was a valuable plant called Silphium, a species of fennel. It made Cyrene one of the wealthiest cities in Africa, and was so valuable it was harvested to extinction. Why was it so valuable? Silphium was found to have properties preventing conception! The large seedpod of this plant was shaped as the heart as we know it today. The heart symbol we know in the present day became fashionable in the Victorian era. This is when it started appearing to the general public as embroidery, decoration for literature and jewelry. The heart is still a popular icon today in the arts. Ceramicists, painters and jewelry makers all make use of the ancient symbol. One of the most interesting local depictions is that of Katie Northey Gruntz from Mandeville. Katie carves the form for her sterling heart pendants out of charcoal, and then casts it in sterling silver. Hanging it on a hand-forged chain, she gives the ancient symbol of love a decidedly modern look. Contact information: Katie Gruntz
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The heart: a symbol known throughout the western world as signifying love or affection. But have you ever wondered where it came from? Upon viewing photos of the human heart, the only part that even vaguely resembles it is the pointed bottom.