The Areopagus and the Altar 'To an Unknown God'
Mars Hill, where Paul preached, and the Pergamon altar inscribed 'to unknown gods'
Found 1909 — Pergamon altar to 'unknown gods': German excavations of the Demeter sanctuary at Pergamon (Hugo Hepding, published 1910). The Areopagus itself was never lost
Where Areopagus, Athens; Sanctuary of Demeter, Pergamon (Greece / Turkey)
Dates from Hill: ancient court site; Pergamon altar 2nd century CE · Classical–Roman · Paul at Athens (Acts 17)
Now at Areopagus: in situ, Athens. Pergamon altar: in situ at the Demeter sanctuary, Bergama, Turkey
How The Areopagus and the Altar 'To an Unknown God' was found
The Areopagus is a bare rock outcrop north-west of the Acropolis, still climbed by visitors; a bronze plaque with Paul's sermon in Greek is fixed at its foot. At Pergamon, a small altar was found reading 'To unknown gods, Kapiton the torch-bearer.' Pausanias (1.1.4) and Philostratus also mention Athenian altars to unknown gods.
What it is
The Areopagus ('Hill of Ares') is a 115-metre limestone hill that gave its name to Athens' ancient council and court. The Pergamon altar is a small marble block whose fragmentary Greek text is restored as 'to unknown gods' (theois agnostois), the closest physical parallel to the Athenian altar Paul cited.
Why it matters for the Bible
Acts 17:22–23 has Shaul (Paul) stand 'in the middle of the Areopagus' and quote an Athenian altar 'to an unknown god.' No such Athenian altar has been found, but the Pergamon altar and the literary witnesses show that dedications to unknown gods were a real Greek practice, so Paul's opening was a fair description of what his hearers knew. The hill also lets readers picture the setting of the one sermon in Acts addressed wholly to pagans.
The Hebrew word: EL lo no-DAH
אֵל לֹא נוֹדָע
אֵל לֹא נוֹדָע is pronounced EL lo no-DAH and means an unknown god (Greek agnosto theo) (Strong's G57 + G2316).
People this discovery connects to
- Paul — שָׁאוּל (Shah-OOL) — asked for (Greek Paulos)
- Dionysius the Areopagite — דִּיּוֹנִיסְיוֹס (dee-o-NEE-see-os) — Greek Dionysios, member of the Areopagus council
Places
- Athens — אַתּוּנָה (ah-TOO-nah) — Greek Athenai; modern Hebrew Atuna
Events
Paul's Areopagus address · Conversion of Dionysius and Damaris
The Areopagus and the Altar 'To an Unknown God' in Scripture
Acts 17:19 One of only 3 verses that name Areopagus.
Acts 17:22-23 Paul on the Areopagus quotes the altar 'to an unknown god'; the Pergamon altar shows the practice was real.
Acts 17:34 Dionysius 'the Areopagite,' a member of the council that met on this hill.
Questions people ask
What is The Areopagus and the Altar 'To an Unknown God'?
The Areopagus ('Hill of Ares') is a 115-metre limestone hill that gave its name to Athens' ancient council and court. The Pergamon altar is a small marble block whose fragmentary Greek text is restored as 'to unknown gods' (theois agnostois), the closest physical parallel to the Athenian altar Paul cited.
When was The Areopagus and the Altar 'To an Unknown God' discovered?
It was found in 1909 by Pergamon altar to 'unknown gods': German excavations of the Demeter sanctuary at Pergamon (Hugo Hepding, published 1910). The Areopagus itself was never lost, at Areopagus, Athens; Sanctuary of Demeter, Pergamon.
Where is The Areopagus and the Altar 'To an Unknown God' today?
Areopagus: in situ, Athens. Pergamon altar: in situ at the Demeter sanctuary, Bergama, Turkey.
Which Bible verses does The Areopagus and the Altar 'To an Unknown God' relate to?
Acts 17:19, Acts 17:22-23, Acts 17:34.
Is The Areopagus and the Altar 'To an Unknown God' authentic?
The hill is certain; whether Paul spoke on the rock or before the council meeting in the Stoa Basileios is debated. No Athenian 'unknown god' altar survives; the Pergamon text is partly restored.
Related discoveries
- דֶּרֶךְVia Egnatia and the Port of NeapolisThe Roman highway and harbour that carried the Good News into Europe
- תַּרְשִׁישׁTarsus: The Roman Road and Cleopatra's GatePaved street and city gate of Paul's 'no mean city'
- בֵּימָהGallio Inscription (Delphi)Letter of Emperor Claudius naming Gallio proconsul of Achaia — the anchor date for Paul's ministry
- מָקוֹם תְּפִלָּהLydia's Baptism Site on the Gangites (Zygaktis) RiverThe riverside 'place of prayer' outside Philippi where Europe's first recorded believer was immersed
- דַּמֶּשֶׂקDamascus: Straight Street and the Temple of JupiterThe Roman city grid of Acts 9 and the great temple that became the Umayyad Mosque
- עֹגֶןMalta: St Paul's Bay and the Roman Anchor ClaimsThe traditional landing site and lead anchor stocks said to be from Paul's ship — unproven
Sources
- H. Hepding, 'Die Arbeiten zu Pergamon 1908–1909: Die Inschriften', MDAI(A) 35 (1910)
- P. W. van der Horst, 'The Altar of the Unknown God in Athens', ANRW II.18.2 (1989)
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