10th July 2005, 04:23 PM
If you mean the Ibn Fadlan account, then yes it is interesting and was disappointingly downplayed in the abysmal "13th Warrior". On the other hand, that burial ritual is not the same as the rape and pillage issue, which probably did happen occasionally, but the nuns, being predominantly from upper class families, would be worth more unraped, because they could be ransomed back to their families for gold, which was probably of more interest to the raiders than a quick fumble. My main point was that the majority of the stories about rape and pillage are aimed at creating histories for the monasteries. There is a grand tradition in medieval monasteries of inventing histories and forging charters that is well worth a look.
Cheers,
Eggbasket
Eggy by name, eggy by nature
Cheers,
Eggbasket
Eggy by name, eggy by nature