How closely does the Assassin's Creed Valhalla's 9th century depiction of Jorvik compare to the modern city?
Ride to the bleak, frozen north in Assassin's Creed Valhalla and you can't miss Jorvik, an enormous Norse settlement split by two rivers. The city was founded by the Romans in 71 AD, but in Valhalla—which is set in 873 AD—the Roman empire is no more and the vikings have taken over the joint.
Today, in the real world, Jorvik is called York, and the only Vikings you see are costumed staff from the local Viking museum walking to work. But how closely does the game's 9th Century depiction of Jorvik compare to the modern city that I happen to live near? I took my camera to find out.York is famous for its historic walls, which have become a popular walking route through the city.
In Valhalla, Roman ruins are scattered all over Jorvik. Today, not so much, but there is this genuine Roman column that was excavated near York Minster in the '60s. It was built around 100 AD by Caesar's Ninth Legion, but whoever placed it in York made a mistake, because it's upside down.This is one of the two rivers that run through York.