The Vikings maintained exchanges with the Islamic world Thousand Years ago.

 

This ring rewrites the past

Discovered in Birka, Sweden, in the grave of a 9th-century Viking woman, this silver ring is set with a glass stone bearing an inscription in Kufic script. It is interpreted as “il-la-lah” — meaning “for Allah” or “God” in Arabic. Modern analyses have confirmed the presence of this inscription, making this object an extremely rare case in Scandinavia.

This discovery suggests that the Vikings maintained exchanges with the Islamic world, particularly through trade routes linking Northern Europe to the Middle East. More than just a piece of jewelry, this ring becomes a symbol of a real connection between two worlds often imagined as separate.

Music: Mørke Skoger (Extended)

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