Ibn Fadlan: An Arab Among Vikings

Gone Medieval

History Hit

History

4.6 • 2.2K Ratings

🗓️ 15 April 2025

⏱️ 57 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

**This podcast contains descriptions of sexual violence, enslavement and human sacrifice**

"I have never seen more perfect physical specimens, tall as date palms, blond and ruddy. Each man were tattooed with dark-green figures from fingernails to neck."

These are the first observations of Vikings from the Arab traveler and diplomat Ibn Fadlan.

Dr. Eleanor Janega is joined by Dr. Thorir Jonsson Hraundal to explore Ibn Fadlan's extraordinary observations of a Viking ship burial during his journey to the Volga Bulgars in 921 CE. From the initial preparation of the body to the final emotionally and culturally charged moments of cremation, Ibn Fadlan provides a rare and vivid description that offers unparalleled insights into Viking funerary practices. This riveting account paints a picture of ritual, belief, and cultural intersection.

The Rise of the Vikings

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0MNLrJxc5ri920VjZ2mqKv

The Viking Age: New Discoveries

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0aChBL6wP2qPpSz5al8tp2

Gone Medieval is presented by Dr. Eleanor Janega. It was edited by Amy Haddow, the producer is Rob Weinberg. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.

All music used is courtesy of Epidemic Sounds.

Gone Medieval is a History Hit podcast.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello, I'm Matt Lewis.
0:02.6	And I'm Dr. Eleanor Yonaga.
0:04.2	And we're just popping up here to tell you some insider info.
0:08.0	If you would like to listen to Gone Medieval ad-free and get early access and bonus episodes,
0:13.3	sign up to History Hit.
0:14.5	With the History Hit subscription, you can also watch hundreds of hours of original documentaries.
0:20.6	Such as my new series on everyone's favorite
0:22.8	conquerors, the Normans, or my recent exploration of the castles that made Britain. There's a new
0:29.9	release to enjoy every week. Sign up now by visiting historyhit.com forward slash subscribe, or find a link in the show notes for this episode.
0:46.9	This episode is brought to you by Find My Past. To commemorate the 80th anniversary of VE Day,
0:53.5	findmypast.com.com.uk are making the 1939
0:57.1	register totally free to access. Find your relatives and delve deeper into life on the path
1:04.1	to victory. The 1939 register offers a glimpse into the lives of 41 million people in
1:10.3	England and Wales right before
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1:18.3	this National Register was created to aid Homefront Planning. Discover the extraordinary details
1:24.3	captured in the Register, uncover who resided in your house in 1939, and explore the roles your relatives played during the war.
1:33.2	Did they contribute to the war effort as air raid wardens, ensuring the safety of their streets, or as members of the women's land army helping to feed the nation?
1:43.1	Visit FindMypast.co.uk forward slash VE Day.
1:48.4	That's find my past.com.uk forward slash VE Day for exclusive free access to the
1:55.3	1939 register. Find My Past. Your family history understood. Terms and conditions apply.
2:05.7	Hello, I'm Dr. Eleanorianica and welcome to Gone Medieval from History Hit, the podcast that
	...

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