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Areopagus
Ar·e·op·a·gus A0415400 (ăr′ē-ŏp′ə-gəs)n. The highest judicial and legislative council of ancient Athens. [Latin, from Greek Areios pagos, Areiopagos, hill of Ares, Areopagus (where the tribunal met) : Areios, of Ares (from Arēs, Ares) + pagos, stiff mass, hill (from pēgnunai, pag-, to stick, stiffen; see pag- in Indo-European roots).]Areopagus (ˌærɪˈɒpəɡəs) n1. (Placename) the hill to the northwest of the Acropolis in Athens2. (Historical Terms) (in ancient Athens) the judicial council whose members (Areopagites) met on this hill3. (Law) (in ancient Athens) the judicial council whose members (Areopagites) met on this hill4. (Law) literary any high court[via Latin from Greek Areiopagus, contracted from Areios pagos, hill of Ares]Ar•e•op•a•gus (ˌær iˈɒp ə gəs) n. 1. a hill in Athens, Greece, W of the Acropolis. 2. the supreme tribunal of ancient Athens that met on this hill. [< Latin < Greek Áreios págos hill of Ares] ThesaurusNoun | 1. | Areopagus - a hill to the to the west of the Athenian acropolis where met the highest governmental council of ancient Athens and later a judicial courtAthens, Athinai, capital of Greece, Greek capital - the capital and largest city of Greece; named after Athena (its patron goddess); "in the 5th century BC ancient Athens was the world's most powerful and civilized city" | | 2. | Areopagus - the highest governmental assembly in ancient Athens (later a judicial court)assembly - a group of persons who are gathered together for a common purposeAreopagite - a member of the council of the Areopagus |
Areopagus
Areopagus (ărēŏp`əgəs) [Gr.,=hill of Ares], rocky hill, 370 ft (113 m) high, NW of the Acropolis of Athens, famous as the sacred meeting place of the prime council of Athens. This council, also called the Areopagus, represented the ancient council of elders, which usually combined judicial and legislative functions from the beginning. The Areopagus represented in the 5th and 6th cent. B.C. the stronghold of aristocracy. Jurisdiction in murder cases had probably been given to it by Draco; Solon gave it various censorial powers over the officers of the state. The change in the method of choosing the archons in 487 B.C. caused the beginning of the decline of the Areopagus. In 480 B.C. the Areopagus enabled the manning of the fleet for the battle of Salamis, and it recovered much of its influence in the war years. But c.462 B.C. a series of attacks began and eventually the august council was reduced to the status of a court of homicide only, although it maintained its religious character. Pericles was a leader in this democratizing movement; Aeschylus was an opponent, and he brought his trilogy of dramas to a close (in The Eumenides) with an appeal for the preservation of the ancient traditions of the Areopagus.Areopagus organ of power in ancient Athens, named after the place where it held its sessions, on the Hill of Ares, near the Acropolis. The Areopagus came into being during the epoch of the tribal-clan system as a council of elders. Its members held office for life, and from the eighth century B.C. it was constituted entirely of former archons, who were nominated and elected by the Areopagus. It possessed broad political, juridical, supervisory, and religious powers. The Areopagus was a bulwark of the aristocracy and later of the oligarchy. Limitation of the Areopagus’ power began with the growth of the Athenian slaveholding democracy. The first attempts at limitation were made by Solon (sixth century B.C.); the reform of Ephialtes (462 B.C.) eliminated the political power and influence of the Areopagus, preserving only its functions as a court for trying certain criminal offenses and religious transgressions. Areopagushill near the Acropolis used for Athenian council deliberations. [Gk. Hist.: Benét, 46]See: CounselAreopagus1. a. the hill to the northwest of the Acropolis in Athens b. (in ancient Athens) the judicial council whose members (Areopagites) met on this hill 2. Literary any high court Areopagus
Areopagus the hill to the northwest of the Acropolis in Athens; in ancient Athens, the judicial council whose members (Areopagites) met on this hill. As a result it may be encountered as a term for any high court.AREOPAGUS. A tribunal established in ancient Athens, bore this name. It isvariously represented; some considered as having been a model of justice andperfection, while others look upon it as an aristocratic court, which had avery extended jurisdiction over all crimes and offences, and which exercisedan absolute power. See Acts 17, 19 and 22. Areopagus
Words related to Areopagusnoun a hill to the to the west of the Athenian acropolis where met the highest governmental council of ancient Athens and later a judicial courtRelated Words- Athens
- Athinai
- capital of Greece
- Greek capital
noun the highest governmental assembly in ancient Athens (later a judicial court)Related Words |