Areopagus

AREOPAGUS, the place where the Areopagites, who were the celebrated Judges of Athens, formerly assembled¹. The Areopagus is situated upon an eminence, which in old times was almost in the middle of the City. At present it is out of Athens. There are some remains of it still visible in the foundations, which form a semi-circle, built with square stones of a prodigious size. These foundations support a terrass or plat-form of about an hundred and forty paces, which was the court, where this august Senate was held. In the midst of it there was a Tribunal cut in a rock, and all about were seats cut likewise in stone, wherein the Judges of the Areopagus formerly heard causes in the open air, and without any covering z. Not² far from hence there were some caves hewn likewise in the rock, where probably the prisoners were kept in custody, who were to appear before the Judges. It is said that they pronounced sentence in the night time, that so they might not be affected by the sight of the persons who spoke and defended themselves. S. Paul having preached at Athens against the plurality of Gods, and declared, that he came to reveal that God to the Athenians, whom they adored without knowing him, was carried before the Areopagites, as the introducer of a new Religion. Acts xvii. 19, 22, & seq.He spoke there upon this occasion with so much wisdom, that he converted Dionysius one of his Judges, and was dismissed without any one’s having any thing to say to him.

Read this article in its place on the printed pages