The heart has gone from a simple muscle in a body, to the symbol of love as far back into history an one can imagine. Who ever thought that so many meanings could come out of one simple picture? From Valentine’s Day (hallmark and florists probably live for that day!) to the arrow-wielding cherub we lovingly call Cupid, the word “love” is no longer necessary! There is no need to spell out “love” at the end of a letter, since it is simpler to draw a heart shape to suffice.
I believe that many heart tattoos also do not last very long before they receive a cover-up tattoo. This seems certain, especially if the tattoo also shows the name of an intimate partner! Just think of how many times a man covers up a cute tattoo of two hearts squished together. Of course, if it were up to me, any guy who had enough, uh – guts (yeah, let’s go with guts) would simply cross out the old name, and put the new girlfriends’ name under the ex’s name!
The Cupid cherub made its debut into the limelight in Grecian times. Known as Eros, the God of Love, he married a woman that his mother had not consented. They came to a rather strange agreement – he could marry, as long as the woman (her name was Psyche) never saw Cupid’s face. The two loved one another, and lived happily, until her sisters started laying the seeds of doubt into Psyche’s head. Beginning to think that perhaps Cupid was grotesque or disfigured (why he wore the mask), she peeked under the mask as he slept one night. Both were punished for her actions, and were forced to leave one another. In order to get him back, Psyche was sent to retrieve Pandora’s box. She peeked into that as well, and was killed. Cupid’s love and compassion brought her back to life, and turned her into a Goddess.
Valentine’s Day was begun based upon Saint Valentine, a priest who supposedly defied the orders of a Roman king. The king believed that single men made better soldiers (since they had no one to dream about during wartime), so he outlawed marriage within his soldiers. The priest defied the king’s order, because he felt that love was what steadied a man -made them fight harder to survive. For it, he was jailed and put to death, but gained sainthood for his actions.
Many pictures have developed from that one symbol. The heart with an arrow signifies that Cupid has targeted and found your heart, after you have found the love of your life. The jagged edges of a heart split in two tends to be the next step, once your so-called life mate has gone from your life. Moreover, just think of all of the different ways you can ink your love forever! Don’t forget though, in case of accidental choices – there are always tattoo artists that have been creative enough to figure out how to cover up a mistake!





















