3 ms·

Probably because some of them converted to Islam as ibn Fadlan reported.

• riazrizvi 7y ago
  Probably because it really helped them do business, you know in slaves and such. Vikings settled in Russia to get better access to the Islamic regions for trade. EDIT: But these could also be the death robes of Slavic or Islamic personnel that were part of some Viking trade enterprises, as translators, regional experts etc. I mean they are not necessarily garments reflective of the pagan/Christian Viking culture of the day.
• boreas 7y ago
  Possible, but it seems simpler that they included luxury items from the Islamic world in their burial practices without understanding or worrying about the religious connotations of the script on them. Ibn Fadlan observed the "viking" Rus in southern Russia. It would be more surprising if there was a significant community of Muslim converts in the Scandinavian homeland. Fascinating stuff. Edit: and another guy posted a link that makes a great argument that this was fake news in the first place