sakkos

The leaders, or patriarchs, of Orthodox churches will wear their own style of mitres, a cape called sakkos and an ornate cloth called omophorion, in colours according to their specific traditions.

Its origin is almost certainly the richly embroidered dalmatic that formed part of the consular insignia, which under the name of sakkos became a robe of state special to the emperors.

The modifications of the sakkos, and the way of its being tied, are chiefly illustrated by vase-paintings.

At the present day the Greek women of Thessaly and the Isle of Chios wear a head-dress exactly resembling the antique sakkos.