ASYLUM, a place of refuge. In ancient times, sacred places, especially the temples and altars of the gods, were appointed as asylums to which criminals, as well as perse cuted individuals, might flee for refuge; and to molest them in such places was regarded as an impiety. An analogous institution is found in the laws of the Jews as described in the 35th chapter of Numbers, where six " cities of refuge" are appointed for persons guilty of manslaughter. Among the Greeks in early times, these asylums might be sometimes useful in preventing hasty retribution; but in the course of time they were so much abused that their sanctity was in a great measure disregarded. Thus Pausanias, who fled to the altar of Minerva, was taken and slain there by the Lacedienionians, and in other cases the refugee was compelled to leave the A. by fire or starvation. In Rome, the emperor Tiberius abolished all such places of refuge from law, excepting those in the temples of Juno and lEsetilapius. The custom of allowing to real or supposed crimi
nals a place of safety in temples, was also adopted by the Christian church. In the time of Constantine the great, the churches were made asylums; and Theodosius II. extended the privilege to all courts, alleys, gardens, and houses belonging to the church. In 681 A.D., the synod of Toledo extended the privilege of A. to a space of 30 paces around every church. In the lawless periods of the middle ages, the influence of the church often prevented deeds of gross injustice and violence; but the sanctity of churches was abused by criminals; and this led to several modifications which gradually destroyed the privilege of sanctuary (q.v.). In England, it was abolished by acts passed in 1534 and 1697. The word A. is now applied to places of shelter for unfortunate or destitute persons, and especially to hospitals for the insane. See LUNACY.