Female Bum Behind Valentine Symbol?
By Jennifer Viegas, Discovery News
Feb.
13, 2006 — The familiar double-lobed heart symbol seen on Valentine's Day
cards and candy was inspired by the shape of human female buttocks as seen
from the rear, according to a professor of psychology who studied the
origin, history and symbolism of the Feb.14 holiday.
Galdino Pranzarone of Roanoke College in Salem, Va., told Discovery News
that he analyzed "essential literary and speculative evidence from mythology
and secondary sources," which led to his theory. He believes one rather
obvious bit of evidence is that the heart symbol does not directly duplicate
the heart human organ.
"The twin lobes of the stylized version correspond roughly to the paired
auricles and ventricles (chambers) of the anatomical heart," Pranzarone
said, but added that the organ "is never bright red in color" and its "shape
does not have the invagination at the top nor the sharp point at the base."
Pranzarone indicated that the ancient Greeks and Romans could have
originated the link between human female anatomy and the heart shape. The
Greeks, he said, associated beauty with the curves of the human female
behind.
"The Greek goddess of beauty, Aphrodite, was beautiful all over, but was
unique in that her buttocks were especially beautiful," he explained. "Her
shapely rounded hemispheres were so appreciated by the Greeks that they
built a special temple Aphrodite Kallipygos, which literally meant, 'Goddess
with the Beautiful Buttocks.' This was probably the only religious building
in the world that was dedicated to buttock worship."
He admitted that it was possible that the heart symbol represented both male
and female glutes (the group that includes the three large muscles of each
buttock that control thigh movement), but he said, "I think the Valentine's
heart more closely fits the rounded female anatomy rather than the angular,
compact and slimmer male butt."
Valentine's Day-type heart symbols first became popular in 15th century
Europe as a suit designation on playing cards. It is possible that the
Renaissance fondness for classical literature and history brought forth the
Greek interest in the female buttocks shape, which Pranzarone indicated also
mirrors the basic outline of female breasts.
In the past, other researchers, such as art historian Erwin Panofsky, have
claimed that the Valentine heart shape dates to prehistoric times and was
first observed in Spanish Stone Age cave paintings.
During the 14th century, a handful of scholars described the heart as being
an inverted pinecone with its tip pointing downwards. This description was
even included in the earliest editions of "Gray's Anatomy." The noted
Italian artist Giotto (1267-1337) also sometimes depicted hearts like
pinecones.
Eric Jager is a professor of English at the University of California at Los
Angeles and the author of "The Book of the Heart," which includes
information on early heart imagery.
Jager told Discovery News, "I think Dr. Pranzarone's theory is very
amusing," but suggested that other historians might have mulled over the
buttocks/heart shape link before.
Pranzarone admitted that "any interpretation of this kind of material is
purely speculative. We were not there when goddesses, symbols and paintings
were originally created.
He added, "Hey, it's only Valentine's Day. Most people enjoy it and don't
get too serious about it — unless you don't get the Valentine you were
expecting."
Ягодицы Афродиты как символ любви
Символ сердца, используемый для
обозначения любви, не имеет никакого отношения к анатомическому сердцу.
Ученый из США уверен, что графическое сердце древние греки фактически
срисовали с женских ягодиц. Голдино Пранзароне – профессор одного из
колледжей в Вирджинии – в числе прочего изучает происхождение Дня всех
влюбленных.
Работая в этом направлении, он проанализировал "важнейшие литературные
свидетельства и гипотезы из мифологии и вторичных источников" и пришел к
выводу, что символическое сердце – это женский зад.
Как пояснил исследователь в интервью Discovery News, греки особенно ценили в
женской красоте именно задницу. "Греческая богиня красоты Афродита была
красива всеми частями тела, но особенно – ягодицами, – рассказал он. – Ее
округлые формы настолько ценились в Греции, что в часть Афродиты Каллипиги –
буквально Прекраснозадой – построили специальный храм. Вероятно, это было
единственное в мире религиозное строение, посвященное воспеванию ягодиц".
Впрочем, Пранзароне заметил, что греческий символ любви не имел такой выемки
сверху, не был сильно заострен снизу, и тем более не окрашивался в красный
цвет. Исследователь предположил, что современный символ возник позднее:
когда греческое начертание переняла католическая церковь. Тогда же
графическое сердце было увязано с анатомическим, считает профессор.
Источник: Семен Столяров
Газета.Ru