The Vikings in Persia: Evidence of Sassanid Contact
Archaeological Discoveries: Evidence of Viking Presence in Iran
Archaeological discoveries, such as Sassanian coins found in Sweden and Norway, and the presence of Iranian silk and steel in Viking sites, indicate intriguing connections between the Vikings and Iran. Additionally, Samanid dirhams have been unearthed in these regions, hinting at a complex exchange network between these two distinct civilizations. How did these objects reach Viking lands, and what does this tell us about the Vikings’ relationship with Iran?
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Oseberg Farm, Tonsberg, Norway, August 7, 1903
On this date, archaeologists began one of the most significant excavations in Viking history. Led by Gabriel Gustafson, it took three months to unearth the Oseberg Ship, a well-preserved Viking vessel buried with the remains of two women. The ship, a striking example of Viking craftsmanship, also revealed an unexpected link to Iran. To better understand this connection, let’s first explore who the Vikings were.
The Vikings were renowned as warriors, seafarers, and explorers from northern Europe who embarked on expeditions across the continent and beyond. A faction of Vikings, referred to as the Rus, moved eastward, settling in Novgorod (modern-day Russia) and eventually capturing Kyiv (in present-day Ukraine). Their influence extended southward through the Volga River, eventually reaching the Caspian Sea and establishing contact with Iran.
“In this year, sixteen ships of the Rus appeared on the sea, and they reached Abeskun.”
This passage from Ibn Isfandiyar‘s History of Tabaristan describes how the Rus, who were originally Vikings settled in northwestern Iran, launched raids on the Iranian city of Abeskun, located somewhere near the eastern Caspian Sea (the precise location remains unknown).
“In the following year, the Rus returned in greater numbers, burning Sari and its surroundings, taking captives, and hastily retreating to the sea.”
The Samanids, who succeeded the Sassanids, could not ignore these Viking incursions. After the fall of the Sassanids, the Samanids sought to reduce the influence of the Arab caliphate and revive Persian culture, particularly that of the Sassanian era. Their realm covered a wide area, from today’s Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to parts of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Iran—regions that once comprised Greater Khorasan under the Sassanids. The Samanids fostered a period of flourishing cultural and scientific achievements, and their extensive trade networks connected China to Europe. This interconnectedness explains why Samanid coins have been found as far afield as Viking territories, including Russia, Ukraine, Scotland’s Isle of Skye, and Gotland Island in Sweden.
The Samanids’ artistic influence on the Vikings is evident in numerous artifacts. For instance, Simurgh motifs (a mythical bird) have been found on items such as Mammon’s hilt and the Bamberg sarcophagus. Other common Samanid motifs, such as bird patterns and pearl circle designs, are present in Viking textiles and architectural details, hinting at the depth of cultural exchange between these civilizations.
The Oseberg Ship and Sassanian Silk
The discovery of the Oseberg Ship in Norway, restored over twenty years before being displayed in the Viking Ship Museum, provides further clues. The ship, dated to around 800 AD, contained the remains of two women along with an array of burial artifacts, including silk. Initially, scholars assumed the silk had been looted from monasteries in England or Ireland. However, closer analysis revealed its true origins: Sassanian Iran.
Marianne Vedeler, an archaeologist from the University of Oslo, identified motifs on the silk—lions and birds closely associated with Iranian mythology. Moreover, the silk had been produced using the samite weaving technique, a method specific to the East and particularly characteristic of Sassanian Iran. Supporting this theory, similar Sassanian silks were also found at a Viking burial site in Birka on Bjorko Island, Sweden.
We can expand our understanding further by examining Uppland, a region in Stockholm, Sweden, which holds 1,196 Viking runestones—an important testament to Viking presence. Among the 450 ancient silver coins uncovered in Uppland, several were identified as Sassanian. These coins date back to the late Sassanian period and the early Islamic conquest of Iran. After the collapse of the Sassanian Empire, the newly established Muslim rulers reused Sassanian coins by engraving Islamic phrases like “Jaa’iz” (permitted), “Alhamdulillah” (praise be to God), and “La ilaha illallah” (there is no god but Allah). Known as Arab-Sassanian coins, these coins remained in circulation during the Viking era, as evidenced by the discovery of 1,100 coins in Gotland, Sweden.
Did the Vikings Really Come to Iran During the Sassanian Period?
There is additional archaeological evidence suggesting Viking contact with Iran. One example is a helmet found in a Viking burial in Birka, Sweden, which some scholars argue resembles a Sassanian cavalry helmet depicted in the bas-reliefs at Taq-e Bostan. Although this similarity is not definitive proof, the investigation of Ulfberht swords—a prestigious type of Viking blade—provides stronger evidence for Viking trade with Iran.
Fredrik Carpenter Ljungqvist from Stockholm University has conducted extensive research into these swords, concluding that the steel used in Ulfberht swords originated in Iran. He contends that Vikings traded with Iran during the late Sassanian period and that the collapse of the Sassanian Empire did not end this exchange. In Tabaristan (a region in northern Iran that resisted early Arab conquest), Sassanian metallurgical techniques persisted, and the Vikings continued to rely on these skills.
It appears that the Vikings accessed Tabaristan via the Volga River and the Caspian Sea, acquiring silk, steel, and other valuable goods. This trade likely persisted well beyond the Samanid era and may have continued until the Mongol invasions of Iran and Kyiv by Genghis Khan and his descendants.
Conclusion
The evidence of Viking interactions with Iran offers a fascinating glimpse into the cultural exchanges that occurred across continents during the early medieval period. From Sassanian coins found in Viking burial sites to silk and steel traced back to Iran, these discoveries illustrate the extensive networks and relationships that connected seemingly distant civilizations. Whether through commerce or conquest, the influence of Iranian culture reached the far reaches of Viking Scandinavia, leaving an enduring legacy on Viking history and society.
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