Have you ever wondered why ....

... the mortarboard graduation cap is built the way it is?

The mortarboard is a modification of the four-cornered, ecclesiastic biretta worn by cardinals and bishops. The
biretta is an acknowledged symbol of mastership and an appropriate cap for graduates. For academic purposes,
the crown of the cap was enlarged to such an extent that it required some form of support to keep it from falling
down on the face. This support took the form of a square piece of cardboard. With subsequent modifications the
crown became flat and square, like the cardboard, and a skull cap was fitted underneath.

Of course, the cap is called a mortarboard because it resembles the square board masons use to carry mortar.

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