For example, while Romanesque crucifixes depicted a royal crown atop Christ's head, many late medieval scholars used a crown of thorns. The crown of thorns, placed atop Jesus' head during the torment leading up to crucifixion, was an instrument used by Roman guards to embarrass Jesus and mock his claims to sovereignty. It symbolizes both the physical and emotional pain suffered by Jesus when he died. Additionally, long-term crucifixes can often depict the particular figure of Jesus, also limp and bloodied. Such depictions ultimately led many Christians to prefer the symbol of the cross alone, without depiction of the body of Jesus, especially after Protestants.