A lawcourt at Athens. In it[1] [are] 2 councils: that of the 500 which is appointed each year to deliberate, and that which [leads] to a single [body] of the Areopagites. [sc. The latter] used to try homicide cases and also to exercize solemn control over the other affairs of the city. It was given the name Areios pagos ["Ares' hill"], either because the court is on a hill and [thus] in a high place -- and "of Ares" because it tries homicide cases; Ares [has a link] with homicides -- or because he grounded his spear there in the suit in reply to Poseidon over Halirrhothios, when he [Ares] killed him [Halirrhothios] because he [Halirrhothios] had raped Alkippe, his [Ares'] daughter with Agraulos the daughter of Kekrops, as Hellanicus says in [book] one.[2]
Also [sc. attested is] Areion teichos ["Ares' wall"] and Areiopagitês ["Areopagite"].[3]