Building the Tower of Babel. According to Genesis the people of the Earth built a tower to scale heaven. God intervened and punished them for their presumption by destroying the tower and scattering the population. He confused their speech so that they no longer understood each other thus causing the world's multiplicity of languages. This artwork, which depicts this tale, shows a number of masons working on the building which is surrounded by scaffolding. They are using the tools of their time and contemporary methods of construction, while a crowd of spectators look on. This artwork is from a 14th century cycle of frescoes by Piero di Puccio in the Campo Santo, Piazza dei Miracoli, Pisa, Italy.