The Areopagus was the ancient Athenian council of elders, named after the Hill of Ares (Ares pagos) where it met. In the Roman imperial period it retained authority over civic, religious, and property matters in Athens. A formal memorandum (hypomnematismos) from the Areopagus had apparently recorded rights over Epicurus's property; Cicero asks Memmius to have it rescinded.