Download The Pnyx, is a hill in central Athens, opposite Acropolis, the capital of

PNYX
The Pnyx, is a hill in central Athens, opposite Acropolis, the capital of Greece.
Beginning as early as 507 BC, the Athenians gathered on the Pnyx to host their
popular assemblies, thus making the hill one of the earliest and most important sites
in the creation of democracy.
The Pnyx, a small rocky hill surrounded by parkland, with a large flat platform of
eroded stone set into its side, and by steps carved on its slope, was the meeting place
of one of the world's earliest known democratic legislatures, the Athenian ‘ekklesia”
(assembly), and the flat stone platform was the “vima” , the "stepping stone" or
speakers' platform. As such, the Pnyx is the material embodiment of the principle of
“isēgoría “ ("equal speech"), i.e. the equal right of every citizen to debate matters of
policy. The other two principles of democracy were “isonomia”, equality under the
law, and “isopoliteía”, equality of vote and equal opportunity to assume political
office. The right of isēgoría was expressed by the presiding officer of the Pnyx
assembly, who formally opened each debate with the open invitation "Tís agoreúein
boúletai?" ("Who wishes to speak?").
Pnyx was then outside the city proper, but close enough to be convenient. It looks
down on the ancient Agora, which was the commercial and social centre of the city.
At this site all the great political struggles of Athens of the "Golden Age" were fought
out. Pericles, Aristides and Alcibiades spoke here, within sight of the Parthenon and
the temple of Athena. Here Demosthenes delivered his vilifications of Philip of
Macedon, the famous Philippics.
In the same area, according to the author of Acts Luke, Apostle Paul hosted his first
speech in Athens. The missionary work of Paul in Athens cannot be regarded as a
success, with only two persons Dionisius Areopagites and Damaris being the meager
fruits of this visit. Luke is aware of the problems encountered there and the
difficulties surrounding the subject “Gospel – Hellenism”. The Athenians faced Paul
with skepticism and with the phrase “we will hear you on this matter” . The
preaching about the resurrection of the dead appeared to have been the main
stumbling for the Athenian philosophers. In his speech as delivered in Acts, Paul
tried to meet the needs of an audience with philosophical education, but ultimately,
no Church was established in Athens.
Typical was the report of Paul on the altar of the "unknown god". It seems several
were existing at that time in Athens. As creator of the world and everything precious,
God does not dwell in temples, no need of the services of people and unsuitable
construction of models, says Paul. This thought, says Paul, is consistent with the
words of the Stoic poet Aratus. Finally said that God will judge the world through
one man who raised him from the dead, allusion which caused derisory reactions in
some listeners.
Today, the text of this famous speech is in a bronze plaque beside the carved stairs
leading to the Supreme Court.