DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1031#0099
CHAPTER XL
ATHENS.
The Areopagus.
Curia Martis Athenis.
Juvenal.
Sixteen stone steps cut in the rock, at its south-
east angle, lead up to the hill of the Areopagus from
the valley of the Agora, which lies between it and
the Pnyx. This angle seems to be the point of the
hill on which the Council of the Areopagus sat. Im-
mediately above the steps, on the level of the hill, is
a bench of stone excavated in the limestone rock,
forming three sides of a quadrangle, like a triclinium:
it faces the south: on its east and west side is a
raised block: the former may perhaps have been the
tribunal, the two latter the rude stones which Pau-
sanias saw here, and which are described by Euripides1
as assigned, the one to the accuser, the other to the
criminal, in the causes which were tried in this court.
There the Areopagites, distinguished alike for their
1 Pausan. i. 28. 5. Eurip. Iph. T. 962. Orestes says
«is eis "Apewv oxOov jjkov, es Sitajtr b"
€<ttijv, eyai fxkv SaTepov \a/3eoy fieldpov
to 8' aWo nrpeo-fieip' ijirep rjv ' Epmuwu.
When we had mounted to the hill of Ares,
We scaVd two adverse Steps; I took the one.
The eldest of the Furies trod the other.
ATHENS.
The Areopagus.
Curia Martis Athenis.
Juvenal.
Sixteen stone steps cut in the rock, at its south-
east angle, lead up to the hill of the Areopagus from
the valley of the Agora, which lies between it and
the Pnyx. This angle seems to be the point of the
hill on which the Council of the Areopagus sat. Im-
mediately above the steps, on the level of the hill, is
a bench of stone excavated in the limestone rock,
forming three sides of a quadrangle, like a triclinium:
it faces the south: on its east and west side is a
raised block: the former may perhaps have been the
tribunal, the two latter the rude stones which Pau-
sanias saw here, and which are described by Euripides1
as assigned, the one to the accuser, the other to the
criminal, in the causes which were tried in this court.
There the Areopagites, distinguished alike for their
1 Pausan. i. 28. 5. Eurip. Iph. T. 962. Orestes says
«is eis "Apewv oxOov jjkov, es Sitajtr b"
€<ttijv, eyai fxkv SaTepov \a/3eoy fieldpov
to 8' aWo nrpeo-fieip' ijirep rjv ' Epmuwu.
When we had mounted to the hill of Ares,
We scaVd two adverse Steps; I took the one.
The eldest of the Furies trod the other.