Areopagus

Greece, April 2008


In Wikipedia:
"The Areopagus or Areios Pagos (Greek Άρειος Πάγος is the 'Hill of Ares', north-west of the Acropolis, which in classical times functioned as the chief homicide court of Athens.
In pre-classical times (before the 5th century BC), the Areopagus was the council of elders of the city, similar to the Roman Senate. Like the Senate, its membership was restricted to those who had held high public office, in this case that of Archon. In 462 BC, Ephialtes put through reforms which deprived the Areopagus of almost all its functions except that of a murder tribunal in favor of Heliaia."