Areopagus

Ărēŏpăgus (-ŏs), i, m., = Ἄρειος πάγος,

• Mars’ Hill at Athens, on which the Areopagus, the highest judicial assembly of the Athenians, held its sessions: Areopagitae ab Areopago: is locus est Athenis, Varr. L. L. 7, § 19 Müll.; Cic. Div. 1, 25, 54; id. Off. 1, 22, 75; Sen. Tranq. 3 fin.; Vulg. Act. 17, 19 sqq. (in Cic. Att. 1, 14 used as a Greek word; in Tac. A. 2, 55, called Areum judicium; and in Juv. 9, 101, Curia Martis; cf. Ov. M. 6, 70).

Arēopagus (Arīopagus), ī, m., der Areshügel zu Athen (s. Varr. fr. a. a. O.), auf dem der daher gleichfalls Areopagus genannte oberste Gerichtshof seine Sitzungen (in einem einfach aus Lehm gebauten Hause, s. Vitr. 2, 1, 5) hielt, Varr. LL. 7, 19. Cic. de div. 1, 54 (als Ort). Cic. de nat. deor. 2, 74; de rep. 1, 43. Plin. 7, 200. – ➳ Urspr. Form Areios pagus, Val. Max. 2, 6, 4 (Ἄρειος πάγος bei Cic. ad Att. 1, 14, 5 u. bei Serv. Verg. georg. 1, 18): Nomin. Areos pagos, Sen. de tranqu. anim. 5, 1: Genet. Arei pagi, Val. Max. 8, 1. amb. 2: Akk. Areon pagon, Varr. fr. bei Augustin. de civ. dei 18, 10. – Nomin. Arios pagus, Solin. 7, 19: Akk. Arium pagum, Cic. de div. 1, 54 M. Val. Max. 5, 3. ext. 3. – latein. Areum iudicium, Tac. ann. 2, 55: Martium iudicium, Apul. met. 10, 7: curia Martis, Iuven. 9, 101.

Ărēŏpăgus (15) ( -os ) ī, m. (Ἄρειος πάγος), Aréopage [tribunal dʼAthènes] : Cic. Nat. 2, 74.

➳ nom. Areos pagos Sen. Tranq. 5, 1 ; acc. Arium pagum Cic. Div. 1, 54 M ; Val. Max. 5, 3, 3 ; Areon pagon Varr. d. Aug. Civ. 18, 10.

areopagus, i. m.
大衙門。

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Arēopagus (Arīo-) ī, m

• Mars' Hill at Athens, on which the highest court sat.

Areopăgus

(Ἄρειος πάγος). The hill of Ares (q.v.). A rocky eminence lying to the west of the Athenian Acropolis. To account for the name, various stories were told. Thus, some said that it was so called from the Amazons, the daughters of Ares, having encamped there when they attacked Athens; others again, as Aeschylus, from the sacrifices there offered by them to that god; while the more received opinion connected the name with the legend of Ares having been brought to trial there by Poseidon for the murder of his son, Halirrhothius (q.v.).

To no legend, however, did the place owe its fame, but rather to the ancient criminal court or council (ἡ ἐν Ἀρείῳ πάγῳ βουλή) which held its sittings there, and sometimes received the name of ἡ ἄνω βουλή, to distinguish it from the Solonian Senate of Four Hundred, or the later Clisthenian Senate of Five Hundred. Solon's legislation raised the Areopagus into one of the most powerful bodies by transferring to it the greater part of the jurisdiction of the Ephetae (q.v.), as well as the supervision of the entire public administration, the conduct of magistrates, the transactions of the popular assembly, religion, laws, morals, and discipline, and giving it power to call even private persons to account for offensive behaviour. See Solonian Constitution.

Areopagus Areopagus, hill at Athens

• Hdt. 8.52, Paus. 1.28.5, Paus. 7.25.1, 2
• origin of name: Paus. 1.28.5
• Ares tried for murder in the: Apollod. 3.14.1
• Cephalus tried for homicide in the: Apollod. 3.15.1
• Daedalus tried for murder in the: Apollod. 3.15.8
• Orestes tried and acquitted of murder in the: Paus. 1.28.5, Paus. 8.34.4, Apollod. E.6.23
• council of A. dedicate bull: Paus. 1.24.2
• persons acquitted by A. offer sacrifice: Paus. 1.28.6
• tribunal of A. degraded by Ephialtes: Paus. 1.29.15
• Messenians willing to refer case to: Paus. 4.5.2