The Areopagus or Mars-Hill at Athens 1847

Daguerreotype copy of a salt paper print; 'The Areopagus or Mars-Hill at Athens'. Includes inscription on back -

"So called from Mars having been the first who was tried there for the murder of Hallirhatus. Was once the centre of Athens Sixteen stone steps out in the rock at the SE angle (not seen in this view) led up to the ancient seat of Judgement - almost the only undisputed site in Athens. Immediately above the steps is a bench of Stone excavated in the living rock with a raised block, which is doubtless that described by Euripides as the position of the accused before his judges. For the Areapagites, the most ancient of the Athenium Tribunals is in name still existing, sat in the open air and in the dark, that they might not be influenced by seeing either the accuser or the accused. Pausanias describes these rude stones as we see them now, and he visited Athens in the year."

"Here stood St. Paul (the spot is here marked by the right-hand (figure) in the centre of this platform - brought doubtless up these steps the natural access from the Agora or market-place below, in which he had been conversing amidst those splendid memorials of Pagan worship - Temples, Statues & Alters, which called forth his eloquent Exendium & remonstrance. The city was ended as he describes it A.D. 53 'full of Idols' - the proper translation of the words rendered in the text 'wholly given to idolatry' Acts XVii.22.59 _ _ _ How strong and how truly eloquent was the Appeal! Speaking as he did to the assembled multitudes below, with the bright temple of Theseus here beneath him and the glittering fruits of Mercury, Neptune, Bacchus, Apollo, Pan, & a host of pagan dieties high on the Aeropolis immediately above him!"

"On this Hill Oerestes was tried for Matricide, & Socretes for Theism. And here it was the Xerxes pitched his tent before the Citadel, five centuries before the Christian Era."

"[from an orig Photograph by the Rev. G Bridges 1847."