the acropolis temple complex was where athenians worshipped athena patron and protector of the city and dozens of other gods. nowhere else was science as advanced and humankind the world and the universe more thoroughly examined than an f.m. . attained the top in essence paul had arrived in the intellectual center of the ancient world the city of philosophers a place of lively debate that if it was to be the acid test for his message the gospel he pitched against philosophy a standoff that paul would have preferred to avoid in politics will leave boston begun vienna. on his missionary journeys paul had learned that he was most persuasive in personal conversation. but in athens he couldn't avoid having to speak before large audiences.