Northwest of the Acropolis is a hill that probably took its name from the god Mars-Ares and is therefore called Areos Pagos. In ancient times here the judiciary of the House of the Areios Pagos (one of the courts of Athens) met. This name remained until the modern times and the Greek Supreme Court is now called Areios Pagos.

It is upon this hill that in 51 AD Christianity was declared to the Athenians by Apostle Paul. It is said that this sermon made Dionysius-the so called Aeropagitis- to convert, and become the first bishop of Athens and later patron saint of the city.