Origins of the papal tiara Origins of the papal tiara The origins of the Papal Tiara remain somewhat nebulous and clouded in mystery. The word "tiara" itself occurs in the classical annals to denote a Persian headdress, particularly that of the "great king." A "camelaucum" which was similar in shape to papal tiaras, was part of court dress in Byzantium. Given that other rituals associated with the Papal Coronation, notably the use of the sedia gestatoria, were copied from Byzantine and eastern imperial ceremonial, it is likely that the tiara is also of Byzantine origin. A form of papal crown is first mentioned in the
Society for the Study of Black Religion The group chose the name "religion" rather than "theology" to avoid the constraints imposed by the narrower term. Charles Shelby Rooks, who would later become the first African-American head of a traditionally white-led seminary at the Chicago Theological Seminary, took a leading role in the founding and served as the SSBR's first elected president. Society for the Study of Black Religion The Society for the Study of Black Religion is the oldest scholarly society dedicated to the study of the African-American religious experience. It is dedicated to "scholarly research and discussion about the religious experiences of Blacks." The SSBR was