What is the origin of the square graduation cap?

Question

I have attended several high school and college graduations in the past few months, and no one seems to know the answer to this question. Are the four corners symbolic? Is it more economical to use a square shape than a round one? Where and when did this tradition begin?

Answer 1

"The cap

The pileus, a common headpiece of medieval laity, was first adopted by the Catholic Church at the Synod of Bergamo in 1311 and gradually became typical headwear at clergy-staffed European universities.

The pileus quadralus (square cap) evolved much later into today’s mortar board, worn by most graduates. (The term mortar board was coined in an 1854 novel, “The Adventures of Mr. Verdant Green, an Oxford Freshman,” as a sarcastic reference to the cap’s shape.)"

"The design of the cap, or mortarboard, originated from the combination of two different types of caps that were worn in medieval times. The lower part of the cap is a close-fitting black skullcap with obvious religious origins. A tufted, square cap called a “pileus quadralus” was worn on top of the skullcap, resulting in the one-piece graduation cap design that exists today. The term “mortarboard” came into use in the late 1800’s as a sarcastic reference to the shape of this scholarly cap which closely resembles the square board or tool that is used by masons to hold or carry mortar."

Answer 2

what did it have to do with Saturn?

Answer 3

it was wut greek scolars wore