Vikings used Islamic text in funerary textiles

[Duncan Head]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-41567391

[Andreas Johansson]

Curiously, the text doesn't seem to say if the textiles themselves were of local or imported origin, tho the discussion seems to assume the former.

[Erpingham]

Curiously, the text doesn't seem to say if the textiles themselves were of local or imported origin, tho the discussion seems to assume the former.

It does say

She became interested in the forgotten fragments after realising the material had come from central Asia, Persia and China.

Even if the clothes were made locally, they were constructed from imported luxury goods, which I would assume included the embroidery.  I must admit, I'm struggling a bit with why we should assume it had religious significance, rather than looked pretty.  We know very well that the trade routes to import it existed. 

[Andreas Johansson]

It does say

She became interested in the forgotten fragments after realising the material had come from central Asia, Persia and China.

Ah, thanks, somehow missed that. I agree there seems no pressing reason to assume it had religious significance to the end-users. Indeed, if leaving out the "friend of God" bit is theologically odd, that sits more easily with a purely decorative than religious function.

[Erpingham]

It does say

She became interested in the forgotten fragments after realising the material had come from central Asia, Persia and China.

Ah, thanks, somehow missed that. I agree there seems no pressing reason to assume it had religious significance to the end-users. Indeed, if leaving out the "friend of God" bit is theologically odd, that sits more easily with a purely decorative than religious function.

It is, I suppose, possible it is talismanic.  A Viking might then use it for its "lucky" characteristics.  I can't see that these people can be Muslims - Muslims had (and have) very strict burial rituals, which don't include grave goods.

[Patrick Waterson]

And few if any Vikings would have been readers of Arabic.

[Jim Webster]

And few if any Vikings would have been readers of Arabic.

what struck me with the design was that you could be a reader of Arabic, but still might not recognise the writing unless you were familiar with the cultural stylisations

[Patrick Waterson]

what struck me with the design was that you could be a reader of Arabic, but still might not recognise the writing unless you were familiar with the cultural stylisations

That too, placing at one further remove any possibility that the cloth could indicate any degree of Koranic devotion among its Viking wearers.

It looks to me as if this is simply a case of high-value cloth being highly valued, pattern or no.

[Erpingham]

It looks to me as if this is simply a case of high-value cloth being highly valued, pattern or no.

Agree.  Unless there is some other evidence to suggest a religious purpose, the role as high value goods seems more likely than a form of Islamic/Viking fusion of burial practice.