Areopagus

in ancient Athens, a venerable council of wise men, taking its name from a hill on which it was wont to meet. Its meetings were held in the open air. It appears originally to have been a meeting of petty chieftains, or clan elders. At its best, it appears to have had a well filled treasury and to have been a sort of supreme court, exercising power of life and death, and having authority to guard the morals of Attica. Its functions and membership were amended by Solon. It gradually declined in importance. See Athens