7/50.- Umbria, Orvieto, Cathedral

The doors opening into the Cathedral are in bronze and are decorated with contemporary sculptures representing angels. The four marble posts framing the three gates are decorated with sculptures depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments and Church History. The panel shown here represents the scene from the Book of Genesis where God creates Eve from a rib in Adam’s side during his sleep – allegedly the first example of an operation performed under anesthesia. In the background, the Tree of Knowledge, whose fruit Adam and Eve were not to eat.

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