Persian Coins From Sassanid Era (224-640AD) Discovered In Sweden

Tehran Times ^ | 9-6-2002

[blam]

Persian Coins from Sassanid Era Discovered on Swedish Island

BERLIN -- Archaeologists discovered 23 old Persian coins from the Sassanid era on the southeastern Swedish island of Gotland, the press reported here Friday.

The latest find, regarded as the biggest archaeological sensation of the century(sic), contained Persian and Byzantine coins in a Viking treasure box which was hidden on the island.

The oldest Persian coin in the Viking treasure goes back to 538 A.D. and was specially designed for a king of the Sassanid empire.

The discovery is vivid proof that Vikings did sail as far as the Middle East region.

Arabian coins were also the common currency in Scandinavia for 1000 years.

[blam]

Don't forget that the tree rings recorded a worldwide calamity around 540AD and this is also the start date of the (worldwide) Dark Ages.

[ChicagoRepublican]

Why is this such a sensation? Trade was still widespread, even with the chaos in western Europe.

[Oztrich Boy]

Not even trade is needed to explain this "sensation"

"The Varangian Guard were the best paid of all the Empire's troops. So well paid, in fact that membership had to be purchased. It was quite common for Norsemen to go to Byzantium from all over Scandinavia and Russia, spend time in the Varangian Guard, and return home rich. One such was the future king of Norway, Harald Sigurdson (known as the Ruthless, or inn hardradi) who was to die at the battle of Stamford Bridge in England, 1066.
'Then Harald had a large ox-hide spread out and emptied on to it the gold out of the chests. Scales and weights were brought and the wealth weighed out into two parts, and all who saw it wondered greatly that so much gold could have been brought together into one place in the northen lands. It was in reality wealth belonging to the King of the Greeks, for all men say that there are buildings there filled with red gold' Snorri Sturluson

[blam]

"Why is this such a sensation? Trade was still widespread, even with the chaos in western Europe.

I agree, that's why I added the 'sic'. Now, the chaos you mention was worldwide.

[JamesWilson]

The oldest Persian coin in the Viking treasure goes back to 538 A.D.

WOW!!! Can you imagine what the interest on that would be?

[blam]

"It was in reality wealth belonging to the King of the Greeks, for all men say that there are buildings there filled with red gold' Snorri Sturluson"

Red gold? Copper added? Peru? (What was the unique metal Plato spoke about from Atlantis?)

[Verginius Rufus]

This is only the 616th day of the century...so maybe this is the biggest sensation so far.

King Harald's Saga by Snorri Sturluson is available in the Penguin Classics. In chapter 12 it tells how King Harald conquered Palestine and went to bathe in the River Jordan: "He cleared a route all the way to the river Jordan, killing all the robbers and other trouble-makers in the area."

Too bad he was killed at Stamford Bridge...the Middle East could use someone like him right now.

[blam]

"This is only the 616th day of the century...so maybe this is the biggest sensation so far."

Geez...hadn't thought of that. Must be Democrats that wrote this piece.

[blam]

The Dark Ages: Were They Darker Than We Imagined?

[LostTribe]

Good Stuff!

[johndpringle]

A British author named David Keys has written a book etitled "Catastrophe" which hypothesizes that the volcano Krakatoa exploded/erupted in 535 A.D., causing a sort of natural "nuclear" winter. I learned about this book by watching the PBS series "Secrets of the Dead". Keys ruled out asteroids or comets as the cause based upon ice cores from the Artic which contained high amounts of sulphur from around 535 A.D. According to the Javanese (?) Book of Kings (reportedly) Krakatoa erupted splitting the island of Java into the islands of Sumatra and Java.

[blam]

"A British author named David Keys has written a book etitled "Catastrophe" which hypothesizes that the volcano Krakatoa exploded/erupted in 535 A.D., causing a sort of natural "nuclear" winter. "

I read this book some time back. I don't recommend it. I do recommend Cosmic Winter by Clube and Napier and Exodus To Arthur by Mike Baillie.

The 'long-ring' tree ring data has recorded five catastrophic events in the last 10k years, they are, 3195BC, 2354BC, 1628BC, 1159BC, and 540BC with two minor events at 207BC and 44BC. The 540AD event is the only one that does not have an acid layer in the ice cores, that is why Bailey, Clube, Napier and Baillie speculate that it has/had a celestial element, a comet/asteroid.

[blam]

Catastrophic Event Preceded Dark Ages - Scientist

[blam]

Did Asteroids and Comets Turn The Tides Of Civilisation

[Eternal_Bear]

Many Anglo Saxons left England after the Conquest and joined the Varangian Guard. In 1086, at Durazzo which is now in Albania they took on the Normans again who were invading Byzantine holdings. The results were the same. The Saxons were too agressive and failed to maintain cohesion. The Norman horsemen rode over them.

[CdMGuy]

Here is something to consider. Just why is everyone presuming the Vikings went down to Persia? Just maybe, the Persians took a trip up to Scandanavia and left some coins there. Why give the Vikings credit for travelling everywhere? Of course, if I lived in that crummy cold climate, I would be heading south all the time myself.

[Lessismore]

It is also possible that coins travel farther than any one person by being traded from merchant to merchant. However, there are good river routes from the eastern and southern Baltic sea shores that lead to the river systems that empty into the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea.

[LostTribe]

I may have previously mentioned the name Dr. Iben Browning, formerly of the U of New Mex, now deceased. You would have absolutely loved to hear him speak on these subjects, especially volcanism and weather and it's effects on man.

I heard him years ago at a financial conference in New Orleans, where he was the hit of the conference. Spoke the next year too as I recall. Despite his great work in these fields he was not widely recognized by the "establishment" since it didn't fit their stale old notes. So he just made a fortune instead as a PRIVATE weathercaster for large international conglomerates whose fortunes varied with global weather. They just LOVED him.

Unfortunately, as too often happens with great men, he made a bad call (the New Madrid non-earthquake) not long before his death and that is how too many, especially his enemies, choose to remember him.) I think you would enjoy his book Climate and the affairs of men.

[blam]

Thanks. I'll put it on my list.( lol, You did good on the Assyrian Tablets book, so, I'll give it a shot too)