areopagus

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

Areopagus
    n 1: 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
    2: the highest governmental assembly in ancient Athens (later a
       judicial court)

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Areopagus \Ar`e*op"a*gus\, n. [L., fr. Gr. ?, and ? ?, hill of
   Ares (Mars' Hill).]
   The highest judicial court at Athens. Its sessions were held
   on Mars' Hill. Hence, any high court or tribunal.
   [1913 Webster]

from Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary

Areopagus
the Latin form of the Greek word rendered "Mars' hill." But it
denotes also the council or court of justice which met in the
open air on the hill. It was a rocky height to the west of the
Acropolis at Athens, on the south-east summit of which the
council was held which was constituted by Solon, and consisted
of nine archons or chief magistrates who were then in office,
and the ex-archons of blameless life.

  On this hill of Mars (Gr. Ares) Paul delivered his memorable
address to the "men of Athens" (Acts 17:22-31).

from Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's)

Areopagus, the hill of Mars

from Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856)

AREOPAGUS. A tribunal established in ancient Athens, bore this name. It is
variously represented; some considered as having been a model of justice and
perfection, while others look upon it as an aristocratic court, which had a
very extended jurisdiction over all crimes and offences, and which exercised
an absolute power. See Acts 17, 19 and 22.