Mars Hill

We have seen several sites associated with Paul's journey described in Acts 16 and 17.  We saw the location of Lydia's conversion and baptism as well as the likely jail where Paul and Silas were held in Philippi (Acts 16).  We spent a day in Thessoloniki.  We also saw a monument in Berea where Paul may have addressed the Bereans.  That leads us to Athens.  Paul initially spoke at the synagogue and in the marketplace.  Below is a view of the restored marketplace (long building on the right side) where Paul would have addressed the Athenians.

We also know that statues of gods were common in Ancient Greek cities.  Below you can see some of the bases these statues would have stood on.  This area is just outside the marketplace.

 Paul eventually addressed the people of Athens who were interested in listening to him from the hill of Ares (Greek) or Mars Hill (Roman).  The pictures above where taken from that hill.  The top of Mars Hill is shown below.

 At the base of the hill is a plaque with the speech Paul gave to the Athenians (Acts 17:32-31).

For some additional perspective, the two photos below show the relationship between Mars Hill and the Acropolis.  The first photo is from Mars Hill looking up at the Acropolis.  It is believed that the building on the left of the steps housed artwork.  The second photo is from the same location on the Acropolis looking down on Mars Hill.  

Tomorrow, we will be visiting Corinth (Acts 18).