Reliefs on pier 1

The Gothic fa�ade of the Orvieto Cathedral is one of the great masterpieces of the Late Middle Ages. The bas-reliefs on the piers depict biblical stories from the Old and New Testament. They are considered among the most famous of all 14th-century sculpture.

The first pier contains 13 scenes from the Book of Genesis. They depict from bottom left to top right:

• Scene 1: Creation of the water, plants and birds.
• Scene 2: Creation of the animals.
• Scene 3: Creation of Adam.
• Scene 4: God infuses life into Adam and God takes a rib from Adam as he sleeps.
• Scene 5: Creation of Eve.
• Scene 6: God gives instructions on the Tree of Life.
• Scene 7: The Original Sin.
• Scene 8: Expulsion from Paradise.
• Scene 9: Work of the ancestors.
• Scene 10: Cain and Abel making offerings to God.
• Scene 11: Killing of Abel.
• Scene 12: Naomi teaches to read, Jubal discover music.
• Scene 13: A son of Adam with compass.