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AREOPAGUS. 
the density and gravity of fluids are mea- 
sured. The invention of this instrument is 
ascribed to Hypatia, the daughter of Theo, 
in tiie fourth century. It is usually made 
of glass, consisting of a round hollow ball, 
which terminates in a long slender neck, 
hermetically sealed at top, there being first 
as much running mercury put into it, as 
will serve to balance, or keep it in an erect 
position. The neck or stem is divided into 
degrees, and by the depth of its descent 
into any liquor the lightness of that liquor 
is estimated, for the fluid in which it sinks 
least is the heaviest ; and that in which it 
sinks lowest is lightest. See Hydrometer. 
AREOPAGUS, in antiquity, a sovereign 
tribunal at Athens, famous for the justice 
and impartiality of its decrees ; to which 
the gods themselves are said to have sub- 
mitted their quarrels. This tribunal was in 
great reputation among the Greeks, so that 
it was denominated “ the most sacred and 
venerable tribunal,” and Socrates says that 
it was deemed so sacred, that if those who 
had been vicious were elected into it, they 
immediately gave up their former practices, 
and conformed to the rules of the senate, 
because they could not resist the authority 
of example, but were constrained to appear 
virtuous. The Romans themselves had so 
high an opinion of it, that they trusted 
many of their difficult causes to its deci- 
sion. Demosthenes says, that in his time 
neither plaintiff nor defendant had any just 
reason to be dissatisfied with their pro- 
ceedings. Innocence, summoned to ap- 
pear before it, approached without appre- 
hension ; and the guilty, convicted and con- 
demned, retired without daring to murmur. 
Authors are not agreed about the number of 
the judges who composed this august court. 
Some reckon thirty-one, others fifty-one, 
and others five hundred; in reality their 
number seems not to have been fixed, but 
to have been more or less in different years. 
By an inscription quoted by Volaterranus, 
it appears they were then three hundred. 
At first this tribunal only consisted of nine 
persons, who had all discharged tire office of 
archons, had acquitted themselves with ho- 
nour in that trust, and had likewise given an 
account of their administration before the 
logistEe, and undergone a very rigorous 
examination. Those who were admitted 
members of this assembly, were strictly 
watched, and their conduct was scrutinized 
and judged by the court to which they be- 
longed, without partiality. Trivial faults 
did not escape censure. A senator, it is 
said, was punished for having stifled a little 
bird, which from fear had taken refuge in his 
bosom ; he was thus taught, that he who has 
a heart shut against pity, should not be al- 
lowed to have the lives of the citizens at his 
mercy. The members oftliis august assem- 
bly were not allowed to wear crowns, or to 
obtain any marks of honour conferred by 
the people, as a recompence for their ser- 
vices ; nor were they allowed to solicit 
any ; but they were rewarded by a bounty 
from the public, and they had also three 
oboli for every cause in which judgment was 
given. The areopagites were judges for 
life. They never sat in judgment but in 
the open air, and that in the night time ; to 
the intent that their minds might be more 
present and attentive ; and that no object, 
either of pity or aversion, might make any 
impression upon them. However, some 
maintain, that the building in which the ar- 
eopagites assembled was not wholly un- 
covered ; and they observe, that among the 
ruins, large stones have been found, whose 
joints are in the same angle with the pedi- 
ment that must have been used for a co- 
vering. Mr. Spon, who examined the anti- 
quities of that illustrious city, found some re- 
mains of the areopagus still existing in the 
middle of the temple of Theseus, which was 
heretofore in the middle of the city, but is 
now without the walls. The foundation of 
the areopagus is a semicircle, with an es- 
planade of 140 paces round it, which pro- 
perly made the hall of the areopagus. There 
is a tribunal cut in the middle of a rock, 
with seats on each side of it, where the areo- 
pagites sat, exposed to the open air. At 
first they only took cognizance of criminal 
causes ; but in course of time their jurisdic- 
tion became of greater extent. This court 
is recorded as the first that sat upon life 
and death ; and the trial of wilful murder 
seems to have been the original design of its 
institution. In later ages, all incendiaries, 
assassins, conspirators, deserters of their 
country, treasons, and most capital causes in 
general, fell under its cognizance. The 
opinion which the state entertained of the 
wisdom, gravity, and sanctity of its mem- 
bers, gained for them an unlimited power ; 
insomuch that, according to Solon’s regula- 
tion of this assembly, the inspection and 
custody of the laws, the management of the 
public funds, the guardianship of young 
men, and the education of youth, according 
to their rank, were committed to them. 
Their power extended to persons of all 
ages and sexes, to punish the idle and prqfli- 
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