Since, in the absence of border posts, people in the ancient world could come and go at will, refugees and asylum seekers were as common as they are now. But then the notion of ‘citizenship’ came into play. Roman plebs were indeed proud to be citizens, but the ruling oligarchic elite, intent on expanding Rome’s control over land and people (the ancients’ sole resources, bestowing power and wealth), were reluctant to give them any political say.
Democratic Athens, however, took citizenship very seriously. All males with Athenian parents, and aged 18 or above, met weekly in assembly to take all political decisions by majority vote. The idea that any Tom, Dick or Harry could be involved was absolutely anathema to them. So how did they deal with the problem of non-Athenians entering their territory?
For refugees, it was quite simple. Anyone needing protection took refuge at an altar or threw him- or herself on the mercy of an individual by an act of supplication. That made them asulos, ‘inviolable’, and gave them protection against reprisals and seizure of their goods (our ‘asylum’ derives from the word). It was then up to the community to hear their case and decide whether to accept or reject them.
Foreign diplomats and traders were automatically regarded as asulos so that they could conduct business. But any who wanted to take up residence – Athens was a flourishing international city – needed to find an Athenian citizen, with whom they would lodge, to sponsor them and stand surety for them.
As metics (‘people who change residence’), they registered with the state authority, then with the local authority (the deme, roughly ‘parish’) where they were living. They paid a monthly tax; had full access to legal services; had to serve in the army; and had limited access to religious occasions. Those rich enough also had to help pay for the regular festivals (e.g. the tragedy and comedy competitions: the metic Karkinos wrote plays for them). But political power? None – unless they provided such service to Athens that the assembly decided to make them a citizen.
Our system would have left ancient Greeks incredulous.
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