Tool Alpha
The Visual Atlas
Places, art and manuscripts across time. First era: the apostolic and early church, from Pentecost to the early fourth century.
Athens
Paul spoke on the Areopagus and a few believed, Dionysius among them. A later bishop of Corinth made Dionysius the first bishop of Athens.
- 37.971637
- 23.723914
The real question: how does a name in one verse of Acts become the founder of a church? A man in the crowd at a famous speech is later remembered as the first member of the club the speaker started. Maybe he was. Maybe his name was the only one anyone had. What does Acts give us about Dionysius, and what came later?
Those conducting Paul bring him to Athens (Acts 17:15). He speaks in the midst of Mars' hill (Acts 17:22), and some believe, among them Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris (Acts 17:34). Dionysius of Corinth writes to the Athenians, rebuking them for having almost fallen away since the martyrdom of their ruler Publius, says Quadratus was made their bishop after it, and says Dionysius the Areopagite was the first bishop of the church at Athens (Church History 4.23.2-3; 3.4.11). Antoninus writes to the Athenians among other cities, by Melito's report (4.26.10). Origen finishes his work on Ezekiel while in Athens (6.32.2).
Paul brought to Athens (Acts 17:15). The speech on Mars' hill (Acts 17:22). Dionysius the Areopagite and Damaris (Acts 17:34). Paul leaves for Corinth (Acts 18:1).
Eusebius twice repeats Dionysius of Corinth's statement that the Areopagite was first bishop of Athens (Church History 3.4.11; 4.23.3). The same letter speaks of the martyrdom of Publius, their ruler, and of Quadratus, appointed bishop after him, through whose zeal their faith revived (4.23.2-3).
No manuscript in the sources read here is tied to Athens in this era.
The Areopagite as first bishop rests on Dionysius of Corinth as Eusebius reports him; Acts says only that he believed. The list of the seventy among the dubious and spurious pieces attributed to Hippolytus makes Narcissus bishop of Athens instead. That is legend, and it shows how these lists did not agree with each other. Pleiades marks its point for Athens as rough. No public domain object from this era tied to Athens turned up in the museum search.
Not the later writings under the Areopagite's name. This entry is about the man Acts names, and it does not treat any later book attributed to him.
- Acts 17:15-34
- Acts 18:1
- Acts, checked in the King James Version
- Eusebius, Church History, trans. McGiffert, NPNF2 vol. 1 (1890), 3.4.11, 4.23.2-3, 4.26.10, 6.32.2
- Pseudo-Hippolytus, On the Seventy Apostles, ANF vol. 5, Appendix of Dubious and Spurious Pieces
- Pleiades gazetteer, place 579885, Athenae, places.csv
