Mars Hill

The Areopagus or rocky hill in Athens, north-west of the Acropolis, where the Athenian supreme tribunal and court of morals was held. From some part of this hill Paul delivered the address recorded in Acts 17:22-31. (See AREOPAGUS.)

the hill of Mars or Ares, better known by the name of Areopagus, of which hill of Mars or Ares is a translation. The Areopagus was a rocky height in Athens, opposite the western end of the Acropolis. It rises gradually from the northern end, and terminates abruptly on the south, over against the Acropolis, at which point it is about fifty or sixty feet above the valley. The spot is memorable as the place of meeting of the Council of Areopagus. This body existed as a criminal tribunal before the time of Solon, and was the most ancient and venerable of all the Athenian courts. It consisted of all persons who had held the office of archon, and who were members of the council for life unless expelled for misconduct. Before the time of Solon the court tried only cases of willful murder, wounding, poison, and arson: but he gave it extensive powers of a censorial and political nature. The council continued to exist even under the Roman emperors. Its meetings were held on the southeastern summit of the rock. The Areopagus possesses peculiar interest to the Christian as the spot from which St. Paul delivered his memorable address to the men of Athens. (Acts 17:22-31) St. Paul “disputed daily” in the “market” or agora, (Acts 17:17) which was situated south of the Areopagus in the valley lying between this and the hills of the Acropolis, the Pnyx and the Museum. Attracting more and more attention, “certain philosophers of the Epicureans and Stoics” brought him up from the valley, probably by the stone steps, to the Areopagus above, that they might listen to him more conveniently.

MARS' HILL, better known by the name of AREOPAGUS. This was a rocky height in Athens opposite the western end of the Acropolis. It rises gradually from the northern end and terminates abruptly on the south, over against the Acropolis, at which point it is about 50 or 60 feet above the valley. The court held here existed as a criminal tribunal before the time of Solon, and was the most ancient and venerable of all the Athenian courts. It consisted of all persons who had held the office of archon, and who were members of it for life unless expelled for misconduct. Before the time of Solon the court tried only cases of wilful murder, wounding, poison, and arson, but he gave it extensive powers. The council continued to exist even under the Roman emperors. Its meetings were held on the southeastern summit of the rock. On the eastern and western side is a raised block. From this spot Paul delivered his address to the men of Athens. Acts 17:22-31. He also "disputed" in the "market," or agora, "daily," Acts 17:17, which was south of the Areopagus, in the valley lying between this hill and those of the Acropolis, the Pnyx, and the Museum. "Certain philosophers of the Epicureans and of the Stoics" brought him up from the valley, probably by the stone steps, to the Areopagus Hill so that they might listen to him more conveniently. See Areopagus.

MARS' HILL, better known by the name of AREOPAGUS. This was a rocky height in Athens opposite the western end of the Acropolis. It rises gradually from the northern end and terminates abruptly on the south, over against the Acropolis, at which point it is about 50 or 60 feet above the valley. The court held here existed as a criminal tribunal before the time of Solon, and was the most ancient and venerable of all the Athenian courts. It consisted of all persons who had held the office of archon, and who were members of it for life unless expelled for misconduct. Before the time of Solon the court tried only cases of wilful murder, wounding, poison, and arson, but he gave it extensive powers. The council continued to exist even under the Roman emperors. Its meetings were held on the southeastern summit of the rock. On the eastern and western side is a raised block. From this spot Paul delivered his address to the men of Athens. Acts 17:22-31. He also "disputed" in the "market," or agora, "daily," Acts 17:17, which was south of the Areopagus, in the valley lying between this hill and those of the Acropolis, the Pnyx, and the Museum. "Certain philosophers of the Epicureans and of the Stoics" brought him up from the valley, probably by the stone steps, to the Areopagus Hill so that they might listen to him more conveniently. See Areopagus.