Pallium

Pallium, in Roman antiquities, a large rectangular cloak, characteristic of philosopher's. In ecclesiastics, a woollen vestment worn by patriarchs, metropolitans, and certain bishops. The original form was a rolled mantle worn as a scarf round the neck, the ends falling in front and behind. In the Greek Church it became a wide scarf, the end of which nearly reached the feet. In the Latin Church it has shrunk to a narrow ring passing round the shoulders, with a short vertical piece falling down the middle of the breast, and the same down the middle of the back. It is ornamented with crosses.