The 'Mithraic' explanation is indeed a common one. Another hypothesis, which
might be more convincing, is that the mitre derives from the imperial diadem
(headband). Roman emperors are routinely represented with the diadem on
their coins.
Luciana
Luciana Cuppo Csaki
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http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Aegean/9891
----- Original Message -----
From: "Herwig Weigl" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, February 05, 2001 5:08 PM
Subject: Re: Ben's mitre
> B.M.COOK wrote:
>
> > Many years ago I read in a work entitled "The Fellow in the Cap" (by an
> > author who later revealed himself as an enthusiastic anti-Catholic) that
the
> > mitre was originally the Phyrigian cap of Mithras which he considered
was
> > evidence for the infiltration and corruption of early Christianity by
this
> > pagan cult. His original information may have been correct even if his
later
> > interpretation is more open to doubt .....
>
> Manuscript illuminations show bishops bareheaded up to the 11th century.
>
> regards, h.w.
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