11 Facts About Priscus

Priscus of Panium was a 5th-century Eastern Roman diplomat and Greek historian and rhetorician .

Priscus was born in Panion between 410 and 420 AD.

The trader explained to Priscus that after the sack of Viminacium, he was a slave of Onegesius, a Hunnic nobleman, but obtained his freedom and chose to settle among the Huns.

Priscus ultimately engaged in a debate with the Greek defector regarding the qualities of life and justice in both the Byzantine Empire and in barbarian kingdoms.

Priscus was the author of an eight-volume historical work, written in Greek, entitled the History of Byzantium, which was probably not the original title name.

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Priscus's writing style is straightforward and his work is regarded as a reliable contemporary account of Attila the Hun, his court, and the reception of the Roman ambassadors.

Priscus is considered a "classicizing" historian to the extent that his work, though written during the Christian era, is almost completely secular and relies on a style and word-choice that are part of an historiographical tradition dating back to the fifth century BC.

Priscus recounted the story of a dinner with Attila the Hun which took place at one of Attila's many houses.

The dinner was at three o'clock; Priscus entered the house bearing gifts to Attila's wife; her name was Kreka and she had three sons.

Priscus is an important character in Slave of the Huns by Geza Gardonyi.

Priscus is depicted as a kindly master and scholar, and part of the novel is based on his account of his visit to Attila.