Areopagus, the hill (Gr. of Ares or Mars, a craggy eminence in ancient Athens, not far from the Acropolis, famous as the spot where the celebrated council or court of the same name held its sittings. This body was, above all similar courts of Greece, distinguished by its great antiquity and high character. Its origin is carried back by ancient writers as far as the time of Cecrops; but Solon is supposed to have framed, or at least greatly modified, the historical constitution of the Areopagus, and to have extended its functions, so that from being merely a criminal tribunal, its jurisdiction reached the general morals of society and the political affairs of the state - touched everything, in fact, which concerned the public weal. It is not known of how many members the Areopagus was composed, and possibly the number was unlimited, the members serving for life, and consisting of ex-archons of unspotted character. Pericles is said to have deprived it of a portion of its prerogatives, and later its members were made responsible to the people.

Its fame was alive in the time of Cicero, and even as late as the emperor Theodo-sius. In the records of Christendom the hill of Mars is memorable as the spot where the apostle Paul commenced the delivery of a discourse, the outline of which is preserved in the book of Acts. There is no intimation that Paul was brought before the council of the Areopagus.