Amiens Cathedral, nave elevation, looking north

In this unusual view you are standing in the aisle looking through at the soaring elevation of the nave. There are three levels or stories (why do we call them stories?). The lowest level is the pointed-arch arcade opening into the opposite aisle; you can see the windows of the lateral chapels, from right to left, Saint Louis, Saint Honoré and a glimpse of Saint Michel. You can see how the divisions of the bays begin with the front shaft of the piliers cantonnés: this shaft continues upward, interrupted by moldings at three levels, until it reaches the capital, providing visual support for the transverse arch of the high vaults. At the level of the arcade capital two more shafts are added to express support for the diagonal ribs of the main vaults. The triforium sill (the half way point) is marked by a sumptuous foliate garland: above this the surface of the upper wall is set back behind the arcade, making room for two more shafts which rise into the framing arch of the clerestory window. The triforium is linked to the clerestory by means of a central colonnette which divides the triple-unit triforium bays and ascends into the central mullion of the clerestory windows.