CIDARIS, the Mitre used by the Jewish High Priests. Whenever there is mention Exod. xxviii. 4. מצנפת Misnepheth, Cidaris. מגבעותof the High Priest’s Mitre, the Hebrew word made use of to express it, is always Miznepheth, and Mygbaoth, to signify the Bonnet belonging to common Priests. The Rabbins say, the same thing is meant by both these terms, and that the Bonnet used by Priests in general, was made of a piece of Pileus.linen cloth sixteen yards long, which covered their heads like an Helmet, or a Turbant; and they allow no other difference to be between the High Priest’s Bonnet, and that of other Priests than this, that one is flatter, and more in the form of a Turbant, whereas the other worn by ordinary Priests, rose something more in a point. I say nothing here of c Bellon l. ii. c. the plate of Gold, which was an Ornament peculiar to the High Priest’s Mitre.
Josephus says1, that the Bonnet worn by private Priests, was composed of many rounds of Linen Cloth turned in and sewn together, so as to appear like a thick Crown made of Linen wove together. The whole was intirely covered with a piece of Linen Cloth, which came as low as the Forehead, that so the deformity of the seams might be concealed. As to the High Priest’s Bonnet, he says it is like that which we have been describing, but that another was put over it of a Violet colour, which covered the hinder part of the Head, and the two Temples, and was encompassed with a triple Crown of Gold, wherein were small Buttons of henbane Flowers. This circle of Flowers was interrupted in the fore-part of the Tiara, at that place where the plate of Gold, with the name of God on it was fixed.
S. Jerom assures us, that the Priest’s Bonnet was round, like that with which Ulysses was generally painted, as if a Sphere were cut in two, and one half of it were made use of for a Bonnet2. There was no point upon the top of it, nor did it cover the whole head of hair, but left one third part of it before bare: And to prevent its falling off, it was fastened with a Ribbon, which was hid behind. It was of fine Linen, and so neatly covered with a Linen Cloth, as to hide all the Seams. This he takes to be what the Hebrews called Miznepheth; and that this kind of Bonnet was used both by the Priests and High Priest. Pileo de quo diximus; tam Sacerdotes, quam Pontifices utebantur.
It appears from all that we have said, that the form of these Bonnets is not now well understood, the descriptions which are given us of them being so various and different. Moses expressly tells us, that the High Priest’s Tiara was made of Schesh, that is Cotton, and that of other Priests, of Linen only. The Tiara and the Priests Bonnets were tied with a Ribbon, which Ezekiel calls Crown; but that used by the High Priest was richer, and remarkable for the plate of Gold, with the name of God engraven on it, which was placed on the fore-part of the Tiara, and covered some of the High Priest’s Forehead; the Ribbon was tied behind his Head. Lastly, the Hebrew term Migbaoth, whereby the Bonnet of the common Priests was expressed, and which S. Jerom translates Mitra, intimates, that this Bonnet had some resemblance with an Helmet. And that of Miznepheth, which denotes the High Priest’s Tiara, and is translated Cidaris by the same S. Jerom, was probably of another form, and perhaps like those strait Tiaras, which were worn by the Kings of Persia3. We see in Isaiah, that the Kings of Judah wore a Bonnet on their Heads called Zenuph, which is derived from the same root as Miznepheth. It is to be observed, that the Hebrew Priests never appeared in the Temple without covering their Heads. And still at this day it is reckoned an incivility in the East, and a mark of contempt, for any Man to pull off his Hat or Turbant to another, or to shew his naked head before any one.
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