ἄσυλον Ancient Greek · revision 3266

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=2nd century BC, inscriptions|origins=grc συλάω}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (5th-century BC Attic): /á.syː.lon/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (4th-century AD Koine): /ˈa.sy.lon/^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (10th-century Byzantine): /ˈa.sy.lon/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''ᾰ̓́σῡλον''' (ásūlon) ''n'' (genitive ᾰ̓σῡ́λου); second declension^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the neuter of the adjective [[ἄσυλος|tr=ásulos|t=inviolable, safe from seizure]], used as a noun.^(Wiktionary)^(LSJ 1940)^(Beekes 2010) The adjective is the privative prefix with the stem of [[συλάω|tr=sūláō|t=to strip, plunder]] and [[σῦλα|tr=sûla|t=right of seizure, booty]]: “what may not be seized or robbed”.^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960)^(Etymonline) Beekes and Frisk find no certain etymology for συλάω, and note its likeness to [[σκῦλα|tr=skûla|t=booty]].^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960) Pisani thought σῦλα came from Lydian, together with [[la|spolia]].^(Beekes 2010)^(Frisk 1960)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The adjective is older: Parmenides calls all that is “inviolate”, and a character in Euripides' ''Medea'' asks what stranger will offer a land of refuge.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE) As a noun, ''τὸ ἄσυλον'' first means the right of asylum, in Cretan inscriptions of the 2nd century BC.^(DGE)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Hellenistic cities and temples sought recognition as ''asula'', places where no reprisals or seizures could be made.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE) Polybius speaks of a temple of Artemis held to be inviolable, and papyri forbid dragging anyone out of such places.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE) The neuter then became the refuge itself: the Second Book of Maccabees tells how a man was coaxed out of the sanctuary to which he had fled.^(DGE)^(LSJ 1940)

+

+ Latin borrowed it as [[m|la|asylum]], which Virgil and Livy use for the refuge that Romulus opened to fugitives.^(Wiktionary)^(DGE) English took it from Latin in the early 15th century; the sense “home for the insane” came much later.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 6th–5th century BC – Parmenides uses the adjective ἄσυλος for what is inviolate.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ * 5th century BC – Euripides speaks of a land that offers inviolable refuge.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ * 2nd century BC – Polybius calls a temple of Artemis inviolable, and Cretan inscriptions use ''τὸ ἄσυλον'' for the right of asylum.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ * 2nd–1st century BC – The Second Book of Maccabees uses it for a sanctuary where a fugitive took refuge.^(DGE)

+ * 1st century BC – Virgil and Livy use Latin ''asylum'' for Romulus' refuge.^(DGE)

+ * Early 15th century – English borrows ''asylum'' from Latin.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The right of [[m|en|asylum]], immunity from seizure.^(DGE)^(LSJ 1940)

+ # A [[m|en|sanctuary]] or refuge where no one may be seized.^(LSJ 1940)^(DGE)

+ # ''(figurative)'' A retreat, a place of rest.^(DGE)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[ἄσυλος|tr=ásulos]]

+ * [[ἀσυλία|tr=asulía]]

+ * [[συλάω|tr=sūláō]]

+ * [[la|asylum]]

+ * [[en|asylum]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}