4. Appearance of the Huns.

The Huns were short in stature, quick in bodily movement, alert horsemen, broad shouldered, ready in the use of bow and arrow, and have firm-set necks which are ever erect in pride. They made their foes flee in horror because their swarthy aspect was fearful, beardless, the cheeks of the males cut by deep scars, as after the birth of the boys their chins were burnt by the heated iron.

Jordanes. The origin and acts of the Gets. — M.; 1960. Page 91.

5. Greek and Latin historians about the movement of the Huns.

To the western side of the Volga in 360 (possibly, in 350) crossed peoples whose fate was to open a new page in the history of many peoples of Europe, and to begin an epoch in the world history of “Great Movement of the Peoples”. It was they who “made a movement of peoples in Europe unknown before by its force and extent of the area” (Jordanes. Same work, page269).

What impression made their acts on Europeans?

Ammianus Marcellinus: the Huns appeared in the regions of Northern Caucasus like a “snow storm in the mountains”.

Jeronimus (d. in 420): “ From the extreme Meotian limits burst out swarms... of the Huns, who, flying on fast horses here and there, filled all places with murder and horror”.

Jordanes. Same work, page 188.

The victorious movement of the Huns reminded the movement of a comet. In a short period they went from the Volga to Balkan peninsula, the Hungarian plains, and then to Orlean on the Loire, to Aquila and Milan in Northern Italy (Jordanes.Same work, page 269).

6. Greek and latin historians about Alans.

The Alans were descendents of Masguts (per Herodotus, Massagets). So believed Ammianus Marcellinus. The Bulgars considered the Alans as one of the Masgutclans. Originally, the Alans lived in the area “Tash Alan” (“Stone glade”, present plateau Ustьrt). In the 2nd c. BC they lived on the northern shore of the Aral Sea. As evidenced by Josephus Flavius, author of the book “Judean war”, in the beginning of our era the Alans spread into the regions of Northern Caucasus. This information is also confirmed by the message of Lucian (2nd c. AD).

The Greek and Latin historians related the Alans to Scythian peoples. There was a complete similarity between Alans and Scythians in clothing and language, the distinction was only in the length of hair and expression of eyes. Alans wore the hair longer, look was more furious. The Alans frightened enemies with “latent, constrained ferocity of their sight” (Jordanes. Samework, page 276).

As evidenced by Ammianus Marcellinus, Alans originally lived “separated from each other by extensive spaces and they wandered in lowland steppes”.In the 3rd – 4th cc. AD Alans “united under one name and all are summarily called Alans, as their customs and way of life are the same “ (Jordanes.Same work, page 275).

7. Greek and Latin historians about the crossing of the Cimmerian Bosphorus by the Huns.

The Huns did not succeded to break into “Scythian Lands” on the “march”, i.e.to the steppes of North Pontic. Help came by luck. Some Hun hunters noticed how a deer crossed the Kerch strait waters from Kerch peninsula to Taman peninsula. Following the deer, the hunters crossed to the opposite shore. Returning, they told about the possibility of crossing to that shore. This episode was widely known among the historians and writers of the 4th– 6th cc. So, for example, Zosim (second half of the 5th c.) wrote:

“ I found also such a notice, that Cimmerian Bosphorus (present Kerch strait - M. Z.), shallowed by the silt from Tanais (present river Don -M. Z.), allowed them (Huns - M. Z.) to cross on foot from Asia to Europe“ (Jordanes. Same work, page 271).

Another writer, Sozomen, wrote: “ the way pointed by the deer was slightly covered with water” (Same, page 272).

This fact is also noted in the works of other writers of the 5th-6th cc., Eupany, Procopius, Agathius and Jordanes.

8. Information about the Goths.

In the Northern Pontic the Goths appeared in the second half the 2nd c. AD. Depending on the location of settlement they were subdivided into“Vest”and “Ost” Goths. Their possessions were divided by the river Dniestr. The Goths settled to the east of the Dniestr up to the Don, were called Ostgoths. The Goths living in Walacia, Moldova and modern Bessarabia, were calledVisigoths.

9. Information about Attila (variation of his name: – Atilla).

The most complete information about Attila was left by the Byzantian diplomat and historian Priskos, and also by Jordanes. The Byzantian emperor Theodosius II the Younger (408 - 450 AD) sent Priskos with an embassy to the palace of the Hun king Attila. It happened in 448 AD.

9.1. Appearance of Attila in description of Priskos.

In appearance Attila was short of stature, with a broad chest and alarge head; his eyes were small, his beard thin and sprinkled with gray; and he had a flat nose and a swarthy complexion.

Jordanes. Same work, page 102.

9.2. Description of Attila's residence.

Attila's residence was in Pannonia (Hungary). The Huns entered the territory of Pannonia in 405 - 406 AD. Attila's capital was between the rivers Tisza and Temes, the left influents of the Danube. It could be equated to the “most extensive city”. The territory of the residence was surrounded with a wooden wall made “of shiny boards (Jordanes. Same work, page 101).

On the territory of the settlement was a court, surrounded by a vast fencing. The tent and palace of Attila were in this court yard.

The palace was located on a hill and was topped by towers, it was decorated with carvings.