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Medieval Sourcebook: Pricus on Attila the Hun 448


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Priscus describes the court of Attila king of the Huns (448)
The Greek writer Priscus actually visited the Huns and conversed with
Attila. He received a very different impression of the people from the
fearsome pictures given earlier by Ammianus Marcellinus. We may however
infer that the Huns had been a good deal changed by their contact with the
European peoples. Priscus and a companion, Maxim, were sent by the Roman
government with messages to Attila in 448. Priscus first tells of their long
journey from Constantinople to Scythia, the territory then occupied by the
Huns north of the lower Danube. After some difficulty the messengers
obtained a first interview with Attila. Then, as the king of the Huns was
about to move northward, he and his companion determined to follow him.
After describing the incidents of their journey and their arrival at a large
village, Priscus continues:

Attila's residence, which was situated here, was said to be more splendid
than his houses in other places. It was made of polished boards, and
surrounded with wooden enclosures, designed not so much for protection as
for appearance' sake. The house of the chieftain Onegesius was second only
to the king's in splendor and was also encircled with a wooden enclosure,
but it was not adorned with towers like that of the king. Not far from the
inclosure was a large bath built by Onegesius, who was the second in power
among the Scythians. The stones for this bath had been brought from
Pannonia, for the barbarians in this district had no stones or trees, but
used imported material....

The next day I entered the enclosure of Attila's palace, bearing gifts to
his wife, whose name was Kreka. She had three sons, of whom the eldest
governed the Acatiri and the other nations who dwell in Pontic Scythia.
Within the inclosures were numerous buildings, some of carved boards
beautifully fitted together, others of straight planed beams, without
carving, fastened on round wooden blocks which rose to a moderate height
from the ground. Attila's wife lived here; and, having been admitted by the
barbarians at the door, I found her reclining on a soft couch. The floor of
the room was covered with woolen mats for walking on. A number of servants
stood round her, and maids sitting on the floor in front of her embroidered
with colors linen cloths intended to be placed over the Scythian dress for
ornament. Having approached, saluted her, and presented-the gifts, I went
out and walked to the other houses, where Attila was, and waited for
Onegesius, who, as I knew, was with Attila. . . .

I saw a number of people advancing, and a great commotion and noise,
Attila's egress being expected. And he came forth from the house with a
dignified strut, looking round on this side and on that. He was accompanied
by Onegesius, and stood in front of the house; and many persons who had
lawsuits with one another came up and received his judgment. Then he
returned into the house d p and received ambassadors of barbarous peoples. .
. .

[We were invited to a banquet with Attila at three o'clock] When the hour
arrived we went to the palace, along with the embassy from the western
Romans, and stood on the threshold of the hall in the presence of Attila.

The cupbearers gave us a cup, according to the national custom, that we
might pray before we sat down. Having tasted the cup, we proceeded to take
our seats, all the chairs being ranged along the walls of the room on either
side. Attila sat in the middle on a couch ; a second couch was set behind
him, and from it steps led up to his bed, which was covered with linen
sheets and wrought coverlets for ornament, such as Greeks and Romans used to
deck bridal beds. The places on the right of Attila were held chief in
honor - those on the left, where we sat, were only second. . . .

[First the king and his guests pledged one another with the wine.] When this
ceremony was over the cupbearers retired, and tables, large enough for three
or four, or even more, to sit at, were placed next the table of Attila, so
that each could take of the food on the dishes without leaving his seat. The
attendant of Attila first entered with a dish of meat, and behind him came
the other attendants with bread and viands, which they laid on the tables. A
luxurious meal, served on silver plate, had been made ready for us and the
barbarian guests, but Attila ate nothing but meat on a wooden trencher. In
everything else, too, he showed himself temperate - his cup was of wood,
while to the guests were given goblets of gold and silver. His dress, too,
was quite simple, affecting only to be clean. The sword he carried at his
side, the ratchets of his Scythian shoes, the bridle of his horse were not
adorned, like those of the other Scythians, with gold or gems or anything
costly.

When the viands of the first course had been consumed, we all stood up, and
did not resume our seats until each one, in the order before observed, drank
to the health of Attila in the goblet of wine presented to him. We then sat
down, and a second dish was placed on each table with eatables of another
kind. After this course the same ceremony was observed as after the first,
When evening fell torches were lit, and two barbarians coming forward in
front of Attila sang sons they had composed, celebrating his victories and
deeds of valor in war.

>From the account left by Priscus, translated in J. H. Robinson, Readings in
European History, (Boston: Ginn, 1905), pp. 46-49




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(c)Paul Halsall Jan 1996
halsall at murray.fordham.edu