[2] Alison Frantz, The Athenian Agora XXIV: Late Antiquity:A.D. 267–700 (Princeton 1988), 51–56. According to Zosimus (5.6.1–2), Athena and Achilles appeared on the ramparts, and Alaric abandoned his siege, sent heralds, was entertained in the city, and departed "bearing gifts." We can hardly doubt that he used the extortion tactics he later used while besieging Rome, threatening to sack the entire city if not paid off. Zosimus swallowed the face-saving Athenian version of his departure—the more willingly because it seemed to demonstrate the power of the old gods.