The papal tiara is the headdress of the Roman pontiffs, a symbol of their secular and spiritual power. It originates from the crown of the Persian kings. Popes of Rome wore it from the thirteenth to fourteenth century until the implementation of the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, namely until 1965. Pavel the Sixth donated a tiara specially made for him, in which he was crowned, for charitable purposes to the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. However, it still flaunts on the coat of arms of the Vatican and the Holy See. Although attempts to get rid of the tiara continue. So, Benedict the Sixteenth removed it from the papal coat of arms. She has been replaced with a miter.
Papal tiara: description and meaning
The headdress, which symbolizes the rights and power of the "vicars of Christ", is distinguished by the fact that it resembles an egg in shape. It is a triple crown adorned with precious stones and pearls. In Latin, it was also called "triregnum". Thesethree crowns, or diadems, topped with a cross. There are two ribbons at the back. The papal tiara is not a liturgical headdress. It was worn during ceremonial processions, blessings, proclamations of dogmatic decisions and at ceremonial receptions. At liturgical services, the pope, like other bishops, covered his head with a miter. Traditionally, it was also used for heraldic purposes.
Papal tiara: history
Catholics believe that the first mention of a tiara-like headdress is in the Old Testament, namely in the Book of Exodus. There, Jehovah orders to build such a royal hat for Aaron, the brother of Moses. This is reflected in European painting. Aaron is often depicted wearing a tiara, especially in paintings by Netherlandish artists. Then this headdress is mentioned in the writings of one of the first popes, Constantine. Further, in the evolution of the tiara, three periods are distinguished. The first of these is when the head of the Roman Catholic Church covered his head with a headdress resembling a helmet. It was called "camelaucum". Most likely, in its lower part there was an ornament in the form of a circle, but it was not yet either a crown or a diadem. When these symbols of power appeared on the headdresses of popes is unknown.
From the descriptions of the ninth century it follows that the crown did not yet exist. In the tenth century, church vestments change. The miter appears, and in this era there is a difference between the headdresses of popes and bishops.
End of the Middle Ages
Many known examples of the first tiaras come fromend of the thirteenth century. It is known that before the pontificate of Boniface the Eighth (1294-1303), this headdress had one crown. And this pope added a second diadem there. The reasons for this are unknown. Maybe this pontiff loved luxury, or maybe he wanted to show that his powers include secular and spiritual power.
Although some historians believe that Innocent III added the second diadem in the first half of the thirteenth century. No wonder he declared a crusade against the Albigensians and proclaimed himself the overlord of all earthly rulers.
But the tombstone of Benedict the Twelfth (1334-1342) in Avignon is already decorated with a sculpture, dressed in a headdress with three crowns. Although even before the fifteenth century in art there are images of the pontiffs, where the papal tiara has only two diadems. Gradually, a legend began to take shape that Saint Peter covered his head in this way. By the way, in the portraits of popes who were removed from their posts or committed some acts condemned by the church, this headdress usually lies on the ground.
Symbolic meaning
There are several versions of the meaning of the three crowns. The papal tiara, according to one of them, symbolizes the power of the pontiffs over heaven, earth and purgatory. There is another version. She says that this is a symbol of papal authority over the three continents where the descendants of Shem, Ham and Japheth live - Europe, Asia and Africa. There is also an explanation that crowns mean that the pontiff is a high priest, high shepherd and secularruler. Even these diadems were interpreted as different levels of authority of papal sovereignty. This is the spiritual power in the church, secular in the Vatican and supreme over all earthly rulers.
But as time passed, the Roman Catholic clergy began to interpret the tiara a little differently. She became a symbol of the fact that the pope is the head of the church, the secular sovereign and vicar of Christ. Interestingly, in art, the tiara was not only an example of what the church vestments of Roman pontiffs were like on solemn occasions. It is also the headdress of God the Father. But if He is depicted wearing a tiara, then it usually consists of five rings.
