# Why recreating a crown ?

It was customary in the Middle Ages to represent authoritative figures wearing crowns. This statue of Olibrius, designated as the "King of Antioch" by his phylactery, was certainly meant to adhere to this rule.

As the head was completely missing, the reconstruction of the face relies on a stylistic analogy with several other male figures from the cloister, where middle-aged men are consistently depicted with beards. Due to the particular nature of this character, the reconstructed crown is not inspired by those worn by the few figures of kings from the Old Testament identified in the cloister, but rather from the representation of the Roman emperor Domitian on the chapiteau depicting Saint John swallowing poison.

Capital depicting Saint John swallowing poison (detail): Domitian
inv. 2007.1.35, Cliché © Musées de Châlons-en-Champagne, P. Martin