Priscus describes the siege like this: "The Scythians (Huns) have been besieging Niš (thn Naisson). This Illyrian town lies on the river Danuba. It is said to have been established by Constantine who erected the city in the place of Byzantium and called it after his name. Striving to occupy this densely populated and well-fortified city, the barbarians started attacking it by all their means. As the town defenders did not dare to enter an open fight, (the Huns) bridged the river on its south part, by which it runs by the city, so that the army could cross it easily. They dragged their gadgets toward the ramparts, first the wheeled beams... While the gadgets had been pulled towards the town, the defenders of the ramparts threw large stones, already prepared for this purpose, having, indeed, killed some of the soldiers, yet they could not resist so many gadgets. Moreover, they (the Huns) pulled up the ladders as well, so that the city, partially due to the holes made by the battering rams in the walls and partially because the defenders were defeated by numerous gadgets, was occupied, as the barbarians were let in through the battered wall, and also over the ladders leaned on the still standing walls." (Byzantine Sources, I, 11-12)