There’s a whole lot of meaning in this little red icon.

For the sake of imagination: take a moment to think of nothing else and just… picture a strawberry. The juicy heart shape. The vivid ruby color. The sweet, fresh, unmistakable scent. Strawberry is a natural-born icon, which is why it comes to no surprise that it’s one of the most recurring flavors of candy, ice-cream, beverages, and even cosmetics.

But as common as it may be, there’s nothing trivial about this memorable fruit.

In fact, the red color and heart-shape are exactly why the Ancient Romans considered the strawberry to be a symbol for no less than Venus, the goddess of love and beauty.

The association of the fruit with love and passion doesn’t stop there. In France, strawberries used to be considered aphrodisiac — which is why newlyweds were traditionally served a kind of strawberry soup.

Not married yet, but got a crush? An ancient legend claims that if you break a double strawberry in half and share it with someone you wish to attract, you will fall in love with each other. A love potion of sorts.

However charming strawberry may be, it has always been so much more than just a pretty face — or fruit. The Ancient Romans believed it had the power to treat a whole range of medical symptoms, from fevers to melancholy, and even liver diseases and sore throats.