Pallium

• The Pallium was a Roman woollen shawl shaped in a rectangle, worn by both men and women. When worn by ordinary Roman women, it was called the ‘Palla’ and could be dyed in various colours.
• The Pallium today is an ecclesiastical garment worn only by the Pope and certain Archbishops of the Catholic Church.

How the Pallium was worn

• The Pallium was worn over the shoulders, and usually in the following way:
  • One end would start by hanging over the back of the left shoulder, and made to hang in a loop over the front.
  • It would then be thrown back over the left shoulder wrapped around the upper shoulders, under the right arm, and then the end thrown back over the left shoulder.