Ibn Fadlan: The real 13th warrior

The real 13th Warrior: #IbnFadlan

Michael Crighton’s book ‘Eaters of the Dead’ and subsequent film, ‘The Thirteenth Warrior’ (1999) was inspired by the writings of Arab scholar and traveller, Ibn Fadlan from the 10th century.

In the film, Ibn Fadlan is played by @antoniobanderasoficial

In 922 AD, Ibn Fadlan, was sent by the Abbasid Caliph in Baghdad, as an envoy to visit the King of the Bulgars of the Middle Volga (in Russia).

Muslims’ name for the Vikings they came across in this region was ‘Rus’ and when Ibn Fadlan visited them, he made detailed accounts of their customs, dress, religion, even witnessing a Viking ship cremation ceremony. These were recorded in what is known as his Risala (or account/journal).

Vikings were regularly trading with Arabs. To the Arabs, it was not strange to come across different people and their customs as they were accustomed to travel and trade.

In fact, many Arabs including Ibn Fadlan wrote accounts of their encounters with the Vikings, and these are proving to be very useful historical documents.

Archaeologists have come across Arabic dirham coins in Viking gravesites.

Crighton’s book and film however, is mostly fiction and is a mix of Ibn Fadlan’s accounts with Beowulf and a bit of H.G. Wells' Morlocks.