ARE 
gate, and to reward the sober and virtuous, 
according to their own pleasure. For this 
purpose, they were empowered, by entei- 
ing and examining private houses, to con- 
demn every useless person as dangerous : 
and every expense not proportioned to the 
means of the citizen as criminal, besides, 
they took cognizance of religious matters, 
blasphemy, contempt of holy mysteries, the 
erection and consecration of temples and 
altars, and the introduction of new cere- 
monies : nevertheless, they interfered in 
public affairs only in cases of emergency or 
danger. As this assembly exhibited the 
greatest firmness in punishing crimes, and 
the nicest circumspection in reforming 
manners ; as it never employed chastise- 
ment till advice and menaces were slighted, 
it acquired the esteem and confidence of 
the people, even whilst it exercised the 
most absolute power. Its meetings were 
held three times in every month, viz. on the 
27th, 28th, and 29th days, but on any 
urgent business, the senators assembled in 
the royal portico. The court was divided 
into several committees, each of which took 
cognizance of separate causes, if the multi- 
plicity of business would not allow time for 
them to be broughtbefore the whole senate : 
and this was done by lots, that the causes 
might not be prejudged. In crimes that 
concerned religion or the state, the powei 
of this court was limited to preparing the 
matter for a trial ; and it then made its 
report to the people, without coming to any 
conclusion. The accused then had it in his 
power to olfer new pleas in his defence ; 
and the people named orators to conduct 
the prosecution before one of the superior 
courts. Trials in the areopagus were pre- 
ceded by tremendous ceremonies. The two 
parties, placed amidst the bleeding mem- 
bers of the victims, took an oath, which 
they confirmed by dreadful imprecations 
against themselves and families. They 
called to witness the Eumenides, who, from 
a neighbouring temple, dedicated to their 
worship, seemed to listen to the invocation, 
and prepare to punish the perjured. They 
then proceeded to the trial, requiring all 
pleadings to be conducted in the simplest 
terms, without exordium, epilogue, or ap- 
peal to the passions. After the question 
had been sufficiently discussed, the judges 
silently deposited their suffrages in two 
urns, one of brass, called the urn of death ; 
and the other of wood, called the urn of 
mercy. This mode of giving votes was af- 
terwards abandoned, and they were deli- 
AIIG 
vered in public, by casting their calculi or 
flints upon two tables, one for those that 
were acquitted, and the other for those con- 
demned : when the numbers were equal, an 
inferior officer added, in favour of the ac- 
cused, the suffrage of Minerva, so called, 
because, according to an ancient tradition, 
this goddess being present in the court of 
areopagus at the trial of Orestes, gave her 
casting vote to turn the scale of justice. In 
some causes the sentence of this court 
was not final ; but an appeal might be made 
to the courts to which they respectively 
belonged. 
ARETIIUSA, in botany, a genus of the 
Gynandria Decandria class of plants, having 
no other calyx than a foliacious spatha ; the 
corolla is ringent, and consists of five ob- 
long sub-equal petals ; the nectarium con- 
sists of a single leaf, divided into two seg- 
ments; the fruit is an oblong oval capsule, 
consisting of three valves, and containing 
one cell, in which are several seeds. There 
are seven species. 
ARETIA, in botany, a genus of the Pen- 
tandria Monogynia class of plants, the ca- 
lyx of which is a perianthium, consisting of 
a single campanulated, semiquinquefid, and 
permanent leaf, without any involucrum ; 
the corolla consists of a single petal ; tiie 
tube is oval, and of the length of the cup ; 
the limb is divided into four segments ; and 
the fruit is a capsule, in which are contain- 
ed many seeds. There are four species. 
ARGEMONE, in botany, a genus of the 
Polyandria Monogynia class of plants, the 
calyx of which is a roundish spatha, com- 
posed of three hollow, pointed, deciduous 
leaves ; the corolla consists of three round- 
ish, erecto patent petals, larger than the 
cup; the fruit is an oval pentangular cap- 
sule, containing one cell, and seeming as if 
formed of five valves ; the seeds are nume- 
rous and very small ; the receptacles are li- 
near, and grow to the angles of the pericar- 
piurn : they do not burst. There are three 
Species. 
ARGENT, in heraldry, the white colour 
in the coats of gentlemen, knights, and ba- 
ronets : the white in the arms of sovereign 
princes is called luna, and that in the arms 
of the nobility pearl ; this is expressed in 
engraving by the parts being left plain, 
without any strokes from the graver. 
ARGENTINA, in natural history, a 
genus of fishes, of the order Abdominales : 
teeth in the jaws and tongue ; gill mem- 
brane, with eight rays ; vent near the tail ; 
ventral fins many rayed. There are four 
