Why do superheroes wear capes? Beneath the comic-book flash lies a deep and ancient symbolism. The word cape descends from the Latin cappa, related to caput, meaning head. In its earliest sense, a cappa was a head covering—a practical garment for warmth and protection. Over centuries, it became a mantle of status and power, worn by soldiers, nobles, and priests alike. Every culture from Egypt to Israel used coverings of the head and shoulders to express authority, divine favor, and responsibility.