How does this contrast with how Priscus portrays himself? What is your sense for the nature of Roman and barbarian identity on the basis of the text?
Late Antiquity in the Roman Empire
The reading by Priscus was written after 472. It describes, first-hand, a visit to Attila the Hun. As you read it, look for evidence of the Roman world among the barbarians. How does Priscus portray Attila? How does this contrast with how Priscus portrays himself? What is your sense for the nature of Roman and barbarian identity on the basis of the text?
As always, be aware of the problem of literary sources: where does a literary portrayal stop and where does reality begin?
This latter problem is something I want you especially to keep in mind as you read Ammianus: do you think his depictions of barbarians are accurate? Do his barbarians seem like nice people? What do you the barbarians would have made of his descriptions of them, had they read them? As an analogy, think of how Texans might be portrayed in a British television show–whom would such a portrayal say more about, people from Texas or people from the UK?