Essay on What does Ammianus Marcellinus admire about the Huns? What does he dislike about them?

It is known that Ammianus Marcellinus is a famous Roman historian who lived in the fourth century and who described the Huns as the most barbarous enemies of Rome. According to the historical data, the Huns were excellent horsemen and brave fighters who struck fear not only into the Romans but also into the Germanic tribes. Ammianus Marcellinus admires the Huns’ endurance and courage. They never lived under roofed houses. They ate roots of the herbs and half-raw flesh of the animals. Moreover, they were accustomed to bear frost, hunger and thirst.

They wore special clothes and caps but their shoes were rather uncomfortable that is why they did not take part in infantry battles. Amminianus Marcellinus admires their ability to remain on horseback days and nights. They preferred to fight on horseback, to sleep on horseback and to eat on horseback. It means that they knew how to raise hardy horses.

However, Amminianus Marcellinus dislikes that the Huns did not plough, grow vegetables and fruits and did not have settled abode. The Huns were homeless people who travelled a lot in their wagons and who did not know what the word home meant. Moreover, he dislikes that the Huns are inconstant and even treacherous. They ignored the distinction between right and wrong and had no religion. The Huns liked gold and were ready to do everything possible and impossible to get gold. They killed those people whom they met on their way and who had gold and other expensive things. Amminianus Marcellinus considers the Huns to be violent, indomitable and ignorant people whose goals are always ignoble.