Description
In the study of the early medieval Rūs and the Viking diaspora, Arabic geographical writings on the practice of funerary sacrifice loom large. Against growing uses of this body of source material as evidence on ritual, the treatment of women, and the global connections of the Rūs, critical issues in the use of and access to this source material necessitate a fresh analysis. This Element reevaluates geographical writings on Rūs death and sacrificial rituals, redirecting focus towards the textual transmission of ideas in both Arabic and Persian to offer a critical guide to geographical knowledge dissemination on Rūs funerary practices.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction; 2. Viking and Norse Archaeological and Textual Evidence; 3. Key Sources and Patterns of Transmission; 4. Forms of Funeral and Sacrifice; 5. Sacrificial Practices and Their Victims; 6. The Deceased; 7. Ritual Leaders; 8. Funerals and Sacrifice in Context; 9. Conclusion; 10. Sources on Rūs and Ṣaqāliba Death Rituals.
