Areopagus

Ar·e·op·a·gus  (r-p-gs)

n.

The highest judicial and legislative council of ancient Athens.

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[Latin, from Greek Areios pagos, hill of Ares, Areopagus (where the tribunal met) : Areios, of Ares (from Ars, Ares) + pagos, stiff mass, hill (from pgnunai, pag-, to stick, stiffen; see pag- in Indo-European roots).]

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Areopagus [ˌærɪˈɒpəgəs]

n

1.

a.  (Placename) the hill to the northwest of the Acropolis in Athens

b.  (Historical Terms) (Law) (in ancient Athens) the judicial council whose members (Areopagites) met on this hill

2. (Law) Literary any high court

[via Latin from Greek Areiopagus, contracted from Areios pagos, hill of Ares]

Thesaurus

Noun	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 court Athens, 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 purpose Areopagite - a member of the council of the Areopagus