The court of Areopagus was one of the oldest and most honoured, not only in Athens, but in the whole of Greece, and, indeed, in the ancient world. Through a long succession of centuries, it preserved its existence amid changes corresponding with those which the state underwent, till at least the age of the Czesars (Tacitus, Ann. ii. 55). The ancients are full of eulogies on its value, equity, and beneficial influence; in consequence of which qualities it was held in so much respect that even foreign states sought its verdict in difficult cases.
Like everything human, however, it was liable to decline, and, after Greece had submitted to the yoke of Rome, retained probably little of its ancient character beyond a certain dignity, which was itself cold and barren ; and however successful it may in earlier times tiave been in conciliating for its deter minations the approval of public opinion, the his torian Tacitus (ut supra) mentions a case in which it was charged with an erroneous, if not a corrupt, decision.
The origin of the court ascends back into the darkest mythical period. From the first its con stitution was essentially aristocratic ; a charactei which to some extent it retained even after the democratic reforms which Solon introduced into the Athenian constitution. By his appointment the nine archons became for the remainder of theii lives Areopagites, provided they had well discharged the duties of their archonship, were blameless in their personal conduct, and had undergone a satis factory examination. Its power and jurisdiction were still further abridged by Pericles, through his instrument Ephialtes. Following the political tendencies of the state, the Areopagus became in process of time less and less aristocratical, and parted piecemeal with most of its important func tions. First its political power was taken away, then its jurisdiction in cases of murder, and even its moral influence gradually departed. During the sway of the Thirty Tyrants its power, or rather its political existence, was destroyed. On their over throw it recovered some consideration, and the oversight of the execution of the laws was restored to it by an express decree. Isocrates endeavoured by his 'Apcora-yircKds X6-yos to revive its ancient influence. The precise time when it ceased to exist cannot be determined ; but evidence is not wanting to shew that in later periods its members ceased to be uniformly characterized by blameless morals.
It is not easy to give a correct summary of its several functions, as the classic writers are not agreed in their statements, and the jurisdiction of the court varied, as has been seen, with times and circumstances. They have, however, been divided into six general classes (Real-Encyclopadie von Pauly, in von) : I. Its judicial function ; II. Its political ; III. Its police function ; IV. Its reli gious ; V. Its educational ; and VI. (only par tially) Its financial. In relation to these functions, such details only can be given here as bear more or less immediately on its moral and religious influ ence, and may serve to assist the student of the Holy Scriptures in forming an opinion as to the relation in which the subject stands to the Gospel, and its distinguished missionary, the apostle Paul.
Passing by certain functions, such as acting as a court of appeal, and of general supervision, which under special circumstances, and when empowered by the people, the Areopagus from time to time discharged, we will say a few words in explanation of the points already named, giving a less restricted space to those which concern its moral and religious influence. Its judicial function embraced trials for murder and manslaughter (06vou 811Cat, Ta tkoinud), and was the oldest and most peculiar sphere of its activity. The indictment was brought by the second or king-archon (iipxwv paaeXeis), whose duties were for the most part of a religious nature. Then followed the oath of both parties; accom panied by solemn appeals to the gods. After this the accuser and the accused had the option of making a speech (the notion of the proceedings of the Areopagus being carried on in the darkness of night rests on no sufficient foundation), which, however, they were obliged to keep free from all extraneous matter (nu, roD vpdyuccros), as well as from mere rhetorical ornaments. After the first speech, the accused was permitted to go into voluntary banishment, if he had no reason to expect a favourable issue. Theft, poisoning, wounding, incendiarism, and treason, belonged also to this department of jurisdiction in the court of the Areo s Pagu Its political function consisted in the constant watch which it kept over the legal condition of the state, acting as overseer and guardian of the laws (6riaroros lad clAXcq rev v(y.twv).