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A Bible carved in stone, Amiens Cathedral.

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Amiens Cathedral in northwestern France is a Gothic masterpiece built before Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.

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It is richly adorned with impressive sculptural decor.

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These sculptures depict biblical scenes such as the creation, Adam and Eve, the life of Jesus and the Virgin Mary.

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They are collectively called the Stone Encyclopedia of the Bible.

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There are sculptures of the Last Judgment on the main facade.

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The Archangel Saint Michael is holding a balance.

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Above him Jesus is peering down at the sins of those entering the cathedral.

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Below him are people who are to be sent to hell after the Last Judgment.

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Those who are to ascend to heaven are on the left.

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The cathedral interior is built so that people can feel the magnificence of the divine world.

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The ceiling is 42 meters high.

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Sunlight streams in.

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Amiens Cathedral also houses a sacred relic from Jerusalem.

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This is the skull of John the Baptist who baptized Jesus Christ.

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A road to God has been drawn on the cathedral floor. It is a sacred maze.

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People would wander, stray and get lost until they reach the center of the maze, a sacred place.

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The maze represents a long pilgrimage.

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Amiens Cathedral took 68 years to complete, an amazing feat for the time.

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The various parts of the sculptures decorating the cathedral were made in many different workshops.

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The idea of distributing work that way was unheard of at the time.

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Amiens Cathedral is a stunning example of Gothic architecture, a monument to the skills and techniques of the period.