Image: Midjourney/ MomJunction Design Team
There are many ways to express love, as every culture has its own symbol of love. There are several traditional love symbols that are often used in Western and Eastern art from historical times, not just roses and hearts. So, here we have gathered a few romantic and sentimental love symbols from different cultures. These symbols will help you learn more about love and also their hidden symbolism. In addition to appreciating the beauty of these symbols, understanding them also means recognizing their cultural importance and the emotions they confer. Each symbol has its own love story to tell that goes beyond time and region. So, go ahead and express love, care, admiration, and endearment in a new way.
Key Pointers
- We all know hearts, cupids, and red roses symbolize love.
- Lesser known symbols may include an apple, harp, or a Claddagh.
- Seashells, ladybirds, the Ankh, and the Triskele bear cultural and spiritual importance.
26 Symbols Of Love And Their Meanings
Here is a list of unique, romantic, and meaningful symbols of love, some of which are popular, while a few are lesser-known.
1. Apple
According to ancient Chinese culture and Greek and Norse mythology, the apple symbolizes unconditional love. It is a symbol that reflects abundance and a long-lasting romantic relationship. Throwing an apple was an expression of love and adoration in ancient Greece.
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2. Harp
The harp was used in traditional love songs for its gentle and melodic sound. It is a Celtic love symbol, representing the bridge of love that connects the Earth with Heaven. According to Icelanders and Norwegians, a ladder formed by harp strings reflects the progression towards higher stages of love.
Quick fact
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3. Claddagh
The love symbol belongs to Irish folklore and consists of two hands, one crown, and one heart.
This Celtic symbol is usually carved in a Claddagh ring, a traditional piece of jewelry used as an engagement or wedding ring.
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4. Swans
White swans are a familiar symbol of love and are associated with the ancient Roman and Greek goddesses of love. They are often photographed as mates, with their beaks touching and a heart shape created with the curvature of their necks. They have been used as a symbol of love, devotion, and intimacy throughout the world.
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5. Doves
Considered to be a significant symbol of peace and love, two doves together depict eternal love. They mate all their life, and therefore, they symbolize fidelity. According to Roman and Greek mythology, doves were sacred animals. There are various images of goddesses with doves fluttering around them.
Trivia
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6. Cupid
Cupid is one of the most popular symbols of love. It is used widely in Roman and Greek artwork and is depicted as a cute little boy with wings using an arrow and bow to pierce people’s hearts and make them fall in love with each other.
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7. Rose quartz
It is a precious pink stone that is a famous and forever symbol of love since 600 B.C. Found in ancient legends from Egypt, Greece, and China, the stone is believed to foster feelings of self-love and attract the kind of romantic relationship you wish to have.
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8. Jasmine
The white flower with a sweet fragrance is a potent symbol of love.
Believed to have originated from the Himalayan foothills, jasmine is considered pure and sacred and held with reverence in the Hindu religion. Thus, many Hindu goddesses are depicted wearing garlands made of jasmine flowers.
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9. Love knot
It represents eternal love. The popular Celtic symbol consists of loops that have no end and no beginning, just like everlasting love and attachment.
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10. Red roses
Red roses are the most popular symbol of love worldwide and have been used to represent affection since time immemorial. They are often attributed to goddesses in Roman and Greek mythology.
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11. Heart
The heart shape has been the universal love symbol for centuries.
It is a traditional symbol whose origin is unknown. The heart is believed to be associated with higher human emotions such as compassion, charity, faith, and fidelity. The heart shape is usually used to symbolize love, warmth, affection, tenderness, romance, and excitement of love.
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12. Ladybird
The ladybird is a common good luck symbol and also represents love. According to certain cultures in Asia, it is believed that if a captured ladybird is released, it will fly to the love of your life and whisper your name to them. After hearing your name, your true love will come to you.
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13. Infinity
The beautiful love symbol is similar to the love knot and represents forever love. The infinity symbol is popular in ancient Rome, Tibet, India, and Greece. It consists of loops that have no beginning and no end, representing eternity in love. Due to such representations, it is also one of the most common tattoos for couples.
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14. Seashells
Found in ancient Greece, Rome, and India, seashells are a symbol of love. All the goddesses of love across these three cultures—Aphrodite, Venus, and Lakshmi are seen having seashells. The hard casing of these shells symbolizes the protectiveness in a romantic relationship.
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15. Maple leaf
The maple leaf is the most diverse symbol of love.
In China and Jana, it represents true and beautiful love. In North America, maple leaves are placed at the foot of the beds as a symbol of protection against demons and negativities. Maple leaves depict the wonders and sweetness of love.
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16. The Ankh
The ancient Egyptian symbol for love resembles the Christian cross with a loop on the top. Also known as crux ansata, it commonly represents immortality and life and symbolizes fertility as it represents the female genitalia.
Quick fact
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17. Three-leaf clover
The three-leaf clover is a sacred plant in Ireland and is also the country’s national symbol. It represents love, faith, and hope and is worn by Irish couples on the day of their wedding as it is believed to bring good fortune in their marriage. Also known as Shamrock, it is a metaphor for the Holy Trinity.
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18. Triskele
It is one of the oldest Celtic love symbols with three interlocked spirals representing fire, earth, and water. They are connected by a continuous line that represents love, eternal life, and unity.
Quick fact
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19. Venus
It is the second planet in the solar system between Earth and Mercury. The symbol of Venus is a circle sitting on a cross, which is similar to the female sex symbol. Venus represents infatuation, sexual desire, and longing in European traditions, and it represents fertility, beauty, and purity in Indian tradition.
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20. Diamonds
Diamonds have been a symbol of eternal commitment and love for ages. It is a Greek belief that Cupid uses diamond-tipped arrows with the magical power to inspire love in hearts and bring them together. That is why diamond jewelry is widely used as one of the ways to show love and affection across different cultures.
Quick fact
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21. Triangle
Triangle indicated the capacity for love in ancient Egypt. It also represents the love shared by a father, mother, and child. The triangle is a crucial element of the Buddhist Shri Yantra that promotes the invocation of love energy. An inverted triangle symbolizes a vessel poured with love.
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22. Ribbons and frills
The association of ribbons and frills with love dates back to the days of the knights, who would ride to the battlefield wearing the scarf or ribbon given by his lady love. Years ago, women would drop their frilly handkerchief, hoping that a man would pick it up and give it back, expressing his interest in her.
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23. Hands
The clasped hands of Prince Albert and Queen Victoria were the symbol of the friendship that existed between England and Germany. Legend has it that a long time ago, a man asked for a woman’s hand when he proposed marriage to her, and since then, the hands have become the symbol of love and marriage.
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24. Padme Lotus
It represents illumination, growth, purity, transformation, and love. A lotus with eight petals is a symbol of harmony, and a lotus with thousands of petals is a symbol of enlightenment. With a change in the lotus’s color, its significance also changes. For instance, the red lotus symbolizes love, passion, and ardor.
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25. Nsoromma
Nsoromma means a star, and it symbolizes guardianship. It is a constant reminder that God is watching over us. This symbol represents bonding, faithfulness, and love, especially in the marital bond.
Image: Image: Shutterstock
26. Kokopelli
Image: Image: Shutterstock
Kokopelli is the fertility God of the Hopi tribe, symbolizing love, courtship, fertility, healing, and music. Kokopelli is revered in several Native American cultures in the Southwestern US, taking the form of a hunchbacked grasshopper. Kokopelli is also an integral part of the Hopi rituals, by playing the love flute to attract a maiden. According to the tradition, the man would break his flute upon marriage, signifying a commitment to never play it again. Ancient legends consider this act as a symbol of enduring and long-lasting love. This iconic representation is also found in cave art, pottery, and folklore.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does a key symbolize in love?
In the modern world, exchanging a key with your loved one is a sign of trust, affection, and responsibility and conveys your will to stay with your partner in a long-term relationship. A key also symbolizes success and security.
2. Is the moon a symbol of love?
Moon is often associated with peace, beauty, loyalty, purity, femininity, and eternity. It has been among the most loved and popular symbols used to describe love for a long time. Moreover, the moon and stars sometimes represent a romantic and harmonious association between a man and woman.
3. What is the meaning behind the love lock phenomenon?
The love lock phenomenon is when couples affix padlocks to bridges, fences, or other objects to symbolize their enduring love and commitment. It represents their unity and the belief that their love is strong and unbreakable, standing the test of time.
When one asks, “What is true love?” most people usually say it is a special feeling that can’t be expressed with words. In such instances, sharing a unique symbol of love with your partner can help you express your emotions and feelings in a special way. You can pick the most relatable symbol from these captivating love symbols and use it as an image or buy a similar-looking gift to convey your feelings. These symbols have deep meanings and stories that make them unique and special. So, use these love symbols to strengthen your bond with your beloved and display your most passionate feelings!
Infographic: Love Symbols From Around The World
Over the generations, love has been represented by various symbols worldwide. From Europe to America, here are a few lesser-known love symbols in the infographic below to share and uniquely express your untold feelings to your loved ones. Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Illustration: Unique Symbols Of Love And Their Meanings
Image: Dall·E/MomJunction Design Team
Discover the top 5 ancient symbols of love! From the heart to the infinity symbol, explore the timeless symbols that have been used to express love for centuries.
References
- David Playing The Harp Before Saul.
https://www.artic.edu/artworks/138156/david-playing-the-harp-before-saul - History Of The Engagement Ring.
https://www.capetowndiamondmuseum.org/blog/2012/02/history-of-the-engagement-ring/
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