Legends of magnetically levitated pagan statues predate the floating tomb of Muhammad.

Evidence

Eckhardt (78–82) finds earlier legends of pagan statues held in the air by means of magnets, dating from the description of a floating idol of Serapis that, according to Rufinus de Aquilea, was in the Serapion of Alexandria. — John V. Tolan, Saracens, 1709

Categorization

• XREF: Connects to the chapter’s broader theme of European legends of Muhammad’s magnetically-suspended tomb; the Serapis parallel shows the motif’s classical pagan origin.
• QUESTION: Interesting how a pagan Alexandrian legend migrated onto Muhammad. Worth tracing the transmission path more.