Areopagus

[Ger. Areopag; Fr. Aréo page; Sp., Port., & Ital. Areopago; Lat. Areo pagus; Gr. 'Αρειόπαγος ( Areiopagos ), a hill sacred to Ares (Mars), on the west side of the Acropolis at Athens; "Αρειος ( Areios ), adj. = pertaining to Ares or Mars; from ̓Αρης ( Ares ) = Mars, and πάγος ( pagos ) = a peak, a rocky hill.] 1. Spec. The highest court at Athens, so called from the fact that its place of meeting was upon the hill of Ares (Mars' Hill). It was of great antiquity, and was said to have taken its name from the legend of Ares having been tried there by Poseidon for the murder of his son, Halirrhotius. The judges belonging to THE AREOPAGUS. it sat in the open air. They consisted of all who had filled the archonship without having been expelled from it for misconduct. The cases which came before the court were specially those which might result in the infliction of capital punishment. When Paul pleaded the cause of Christianity before the Court of Areopagus he addre ed the most august a embly which Athens could boast. (Acts xvii. 19, 22.) 2. Gen.: A conference or congre consisting of amba adors or other dignified personages representing the several European powers. "We shall know how to prove to Europe by the attitude we now observe that Roumania deserved better of the European Areopagus ."-Times, July 18, 1878; Speech of Prince Charles of Roumania.