Ἄρειος Πάγος
Áreios Págos
G697
SILEX Entry
Definition
A hill or rocky outcrop in Athens traditionally associated with the deity Ares; specifically, the Areopagus, which functioned both as a physical location and as the designation for the council or court that met there. In classical and Hellenistic contexts, Ἄρειος Πάγος refers to (1) the actual location, a prominent rock west of the Athenian Acropolis, and (2) the judicial body (council or court) that convened at this place. In the New Testament (Acts 17:19, 22), the term denotes (a) the physical site where the apostle Paul addressed Athenian thinkers, and/or (b) representatives of the council meeting at this location. The primary sense is the landmark itself—'Rock of Ares'—with extension to the esteemed civic institution named after it.
Semantic Range
the Hill of Ares (Areopagus), the Athenian council or court that convened there, by extension the legal/judicial body or its members; landmark west of the Acropolis in Athens
Root / Etymology
From Ἄρειος ('of Ares,' the Greek deity associated with war) and Πάγος ('rock' or 'hill'); thus, 'the Hill of Ares.' The second element, Πάγος, comes from πήγνυμι ('to fix, make fast'), here meaning 'rock' as something 'fixed' or 'solid.' Not a theophoric compound in the sense of direct devotion but a topographical designation referencing the mythological association with Ares.
Historical & Contextual Notes
The Areopagus was a central site in Athenian life, both as a literal geographic feature and as a symbol of civic authority. In classical Athens, the Areopagus council was a prestigious governing body originally made up of former archons; it held significant political and judicial power. By the Hellenistic and Roman periods, its authority was mostly confined to moral, religious, and homicide cases. The New Testament reference (Acts 17) may indicate either the location or the council itself; most English translations render Ἄρειος Πάγος as 'Areopagus' or occasionally 'Mars Hill' (a Latinizing paraphrase reflecting the Roman equivalent of Ares, Mars). The name 'Areopagus' thus carries both geographic and institutional connotations; it does not refer to a 'church' or 'religious assembly,' and the anachronistic translation 'Mars Hill' may obscure the Greek cultural setting.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from (the name of the Greek deity of war) and a derivative of πήγνυμι; rock of Ares, a place in Athens:--Areopagus, Mars' Hill.
Word Forms
0 distinct forms
No word forms found for this Strong's number.
Occurrences in Scripture
0 occurrences
No occurrences found.