# Kings and queens from the Old Testament

This king could be Solomon, who built the first temple in Jerusalem. A major figure in medieval art, he is mentioned in the Old Testament in the first chapter of the Book of Kings.
Two other kings are known in the cloister:
The first one, David, is recognizable by his musical instrument. Author of the Book of Psalms, a collection of poems written to be sung and part of the 22 books of the Old Testament, David symbolizes the harmony of the world.

Being a musician, he is sometimes depicted with a harp. In the cloister, the sculptors have given him a rebec, of which only the neck remains.
It is visible in the corridor area, at the entrance of the museum.

Column-statue of the King David, inv. 2007.1.91
© Musées de Châlons-en-Champagne, E. Gault & A. Foviaux
Ancient playing the rebec, detail of the south rose window of Chartres Cathedral, around 1221-1225
Photo © C. Dumolard, Wikimedia

A third king, identified by his scepter but with no recognizable attribute and in very poor condition, is attached to a pillar. He is accompanied by a bishop.

On the other hand, there are no representations of queens from the Old Testament in the cloister, whereas elsewhere, there are several, as illustrated by these two examples from Corbeil and Saint-Loup-de-Naud (Île-de-France).

Column-statue of a queen, maybe Queen of Sheba
From Notre-Dame-de-Corbeil, between 1175-1200,
RF 1617, Musée du Louvre - Photo © Marc Gil

Column-statue of the Queen of Sheba,
Portal of the parish church
Saint-Loup-de-Naud,around 1160.
Photo © Marc Gil