The Areopagus, or Hill of Ares, is located in the north-west of the Acropolis in ancient times functioned as the highest appellate court for criminal and civil cases in Athens.

The name's origin is not known. According to legend, on this hill in a court of the god of war Ares, who was accused of murdering the son of Poseidon. However, he was acquitted by the supreme council of the gods. It is believed that after that it began to hear cases of killings. Perhaps this is where the hill and got its name.

Until the 5th century BC . e .  Areopagus was the council of elders of the city, something like the Roman Senate .  As in the Senate, its membership was limited to those who held high public office, the so-called Archons .  Typically, membership was for life, new candidates proposed and elected by the Areopagus .  In 594 BC . e .  the power of the Areopagus was limited reforms of Solon (Athenian politician, legislator and poet, one of the "Seven Sages" of ancient Greece) .  And in 462 BC . e .  Ephialtes (Athenian statesman) reformed, according to which almost completely abolished the political power and the impact of the Areopagus in favor of the dicastery (the jury) .  The jurisdiction of the Areopagus there were only a function of the court for a felony .  This caused a wave of discontent among the Athenian aristocracy .  In the 4th century, the Areopagus was a new feature - an investigation of corruption, although the main powers remain with the ecclesia (People's Assembly) .  Areopagus continued to function, and in Roman times .

The term "Areopagus" means a judicial authority of aristocratic origin, which later formed the basis of the Supreme Civil and Criminal Court of modern Greece.

This hill is known and what is the apostle Paul spoke with his famous speech about the "unknown god".

Today Areopagus is one of the favorite tourist destination, with a spectacular view of the city and the Acropolis.