Traditionally, the word "tiara" refers to a high crown, often with the shape of a cylinder narrowed at its top, made of fabric or leather, and richly ornamented. It was used by the kings and emperors of some ancient peoples in Mesopotamia. The Assyrians used to include a pair of bull horns as a decoration and symbol of authority and a circle of short feathers surrounding the tiara's top. The Persian tiara was more similar to a truncated cone, without the horns and feathers but more jewels, and a conic-shaped tip at its top.

Papal tiara

main: Papal tiara In the Roman Catholic Church, the Papal Tiara is a high cap surrounded by three crowns and bearing a globe surmounted by a cross worn by the Pope during certain ceremonies, being the symbol of his authority. Since Pope Paul VI set aside his tiara after the Second Vatican Council, the Papal Tiara has not been worn. Pope Benedict XVI even removed the tiara from his Coat of Arms, replacing it with a mitre (but with some symbolic reference to the symbolism of the tiara, still in use in the Holy See's coat of arms). Tiara is also used as a name in many parts of '''the world.

Other tiaras

Tiaras in fiction

In fiction, superheroine Wonder Woman is usually depicted wearing a tiara; hers can be thrown as a weapon, as can that worn by the magical girl character known as Sailor Moon, and also all Sailor Senshi wear tiaras. Both Wonder Woman and the Sailor Senshi's Tiaras are worn over their forehead instead of on top of the head as the are traditionally pictured. Princesses in fiction wear tiaras as well.

External links

• The Diadem

See also

• Diadem
• Kamelaukion
• Papal tiara

External links

• The Royal Collection tiaras of Queen Elizabeth II