Definition of miter

The word "miter" originally comes from the Greek word "mitra," which means "headband." During the Roman Empire, the term "mitra" referred to a headdress worn by the ancient goddess Cybele's priestesses and by the воз mystery cult of the god Mithras. This headdress was characterized by its square, right-angled corners, similar to a bishop's miter, and was decorated with various symbols significant to the cult. When Christianity emerged, the Catholic Church adopted the use of a headband called a "galerus" by its clergy members. This headband is reminiscent of the ancient Greek mitra, and over time, it evolved into a tall, cone-shaped headdress called a "miter." The word "miter" ultimately derives from the Greek word "mitra," because the new headdress design also featured right-angled corners, much like the ancient headbands worn by Cybele's followers and Mithraists. The humble headband of the early Christian Church thus became a grand, jewel-studded miter, an impressive symbol of religious authority worn by bishops and other high officials of the Catholic Church.