# History of heart shape \[changed title\]

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-of-heart-shape-changed-title/237831>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 2, 2004, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-of-heart-shape-changed-title/237831 "2004-04-02T02:11:36Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![indo985](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3da27b/32.png) [@indo985](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/indo985)\
**Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-of-heart-shape-changed-title/237831/1 "2004-04-02T02:11:36Z")

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What is the history of the “heart shape.” I don’t think it looks like the human heart at all.

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**Author:** ![Cabbage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@Cabbage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabbage)\
**Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-of-heart-shape-changed-title/237831/2 "2004-04-02T02:38:21Z")

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Apparently no one is certain, but this may help:

[http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2\_146.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_146.html)

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**Author:** ![owlofcreamcheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@owlofcreamcheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlofcreamcheese)\
**Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-of-heart-shape-changed-title/237831/3 "2004-04-02T03:32:35Z")

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hearts sort of ARE heart shape in a “draw it really really abstract” sort of way.

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**Author:** ![John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ccd318/32.png) [@John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Kentzel-Griffin)\
**Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-of-heart-shape-changed-title/237831/4 "2004-04-02T06:30:34Z")

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_indo985_

Welcome to the board. It helps everyone to have descriptive titles. I’ve changed the title for you.

**DrMatrix** - GQ Moderator

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**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\
**Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-of-heart-shape-changed-title/237831/5 "2004-04-02T14:57:39Z")

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There is a beautiful book on the history of medicine, art, religion and symbolism to do with the heart that might be worthwhile looking up.

The Book Of The Heart by Louisa Young.

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**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\
**Post date:** [April 2, 2004, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/history-of-heart-shape-changed-title/237831/6 "2004-04-02T16:16:07Z")

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I have the theory that it represents a gently parted vulva rather than buttocks. The top cleft being the representation of the clitoris. The bright red blood color becomes more appropriate in this theory.