Valentine's Day is all about the hearts: heart-shaped chocolates, cards, balloons and even pizza . But the heart hasn't always just been a symbol of romance.
Author
- Michelle Spear
Professor of Anatomy, University of Bristol
Across cultures and centuries, the heart has been revered as the seat of the soul, a source of supernatural power and a vessel of identity. From ancient Egyptian afterlife beliefs to medieval relics, from necromantic rituals to modern heart transplants, this organ has been at the centre of both scientific curiosity and deep-seated mysticism.
Why has the heart, more than any other organ, been imbued with such deep symbolism and power? While anatomy tells us it is a muscular pump controlled by electrical impulses, history tells a more complex story - one of rituals, relics and even dark magic.
The human heart is a remarkably efficient pump, beating about 100,000 times a day and circulating about 7,500 litres of blood. It is driven by the sinoatrial node , a cluster of pacemaker cells that spontaneously generate electrical impulses independently of the brain.
As this intrinsic electrical system does not rely on direct nervous input but is influenced by it, the heart can continue beating for a short while even when removed from the body - provided it has an adequate supply of oxygen and electrolytes . This uncanny quality only reinforced superstitions that the heart was more than just a muscle and may explain why many early cultures viewed the heart as possessing a life force of its own.
But to present the heart as merely a pump ignores wider influences. The heart functions as an endocrine organ , releasing hormones that regulate blood pressure, fluid balance and cardiovascular health.
The connection between the heart and "love hormones", such as oxytocin, extends beyond metaphor, as research suggests the heart not only responds to oxytocin but may also play a role in its release.
Oxytocin is primarily produced in the brain by the hypothalamus and released from the pituitary gland, flooding the body during moments of affection, trust and bonding. It is the chemical catalyst behind the deep emotional connections that define human relationships.
The heart is equipped with oxytocin receptors, and studies show that the hormone promotes vasodilation (widening of the blood vessels), reducing blood pressure and improving circulation. Beyond this, oxytocin may protect the heart , helping it repair itself and reducing inflammation after injury, such as during a heart attack.
However, the heart's function was not always understood. The ancient Greeks believed it was the seat of intelligence, while Aristotle dismissed the brain as a mere "cooling fluid" for the heart's divine fire.
Galen, a Greek physician, surgeon and philosopher who lived during Roman times, described the heart as the body's furnace, while William Harvey's 1628 discovery of circulation reshaped our understanding of this important organ. Even so, its symbolic and mystical significance never fully waned.
The seat of the soul
The ancient Egyptians preserved the heart during mummification, believing it would be weighed by Anubis against the Feather of Truth, the divine measure of justice. Ironically, the brain was discarded as totally useless. An excerpt from the Book of the Dead , an ancient Egyptian funerary text, reads:
O my heart which I had from my mother! which I had from my mother! O my heart of my different ages! Don't stand up as a witness against me. Do not be opposed to me in the tribunal.
This spell is intended to pacify the heart and assert dominion, ensuring it remains loyal when weighed.
The idea that the heart carried more than just blood persisted into the Renaissance, with scholars debating whether it was the true locus of identity.
"If indeed from the heart alone rise anger or passion, fear, terror, and sadness; if from it alone spring shame, delight, and joy, why should I say more?" Andreas de Laguna, a Spanish physician wrote in 1535.
Even today, heart transplants fuel questions about whether a transplanted heart carries something of its donor. Some recipients report changes in personality, memories or food preferences, raising speculation about cellular memory . While no definitive scientific basis exists, such cases continue to intrigue.
Heart of darkness
The heart's power was not only revered, but feared. In folk magic and necromancy, people believed that the hearts of executed criminals retained energy from their violent deaths. Some thought consuming, burning or preserving a heart could grant knowledge or strength.
In Scotland and England, people reportedly boiled the hearts of murderers to prevent their ghosts from haunting the living. Dried hearts were sometimes ground into powders for potions, while in occult traditions, they were burned in rituals to banish spirits or bind enemies.
More disturbing are accounts of unbaptised infants' hearts in witchcraft traditions . Some sources claim they were used in hexes, flying ointments or dark pacts. While probably exaggerated during witch trials, such stories reflect a deep-rooted belief in the heart as a conduit of power.
The heart has been a vessel of the soul, a source of magic and a point of conflict between science and superstition. While modern medicine has demystified much of its function, its symbolism remains deeply ingrained in human culture.
This Valentine's Day, as we exchange stylised hearts in celebration of love, we might pause to remember that the power of the heart has been a symbol of life, death and everything in between for millennia.
Michelle Spear does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
