Television Series: What a 'Viking' cheek

In its new showcase TV series, the History Channel has combined forces with MGM to bring you Vikings.

In Season One, we followed the life of legendary Viking Ragnar Lothbrok. Season Two sees the further battles, marriages and pillages of the men and women who sailed west to find land, treasure and - eventually - religion. But how much of it is true?

Though extremely sophisticated boat builders and navigators, the Norse in Scandinavia were largely illiterate. Michael Hirst, the writer who is also responsible for The Tudors, The Borgias and Elizabeth, has therefore had to embellish scenes and details in Vikings.

The legend of Ragnar Lothbrok has been related for many years in oral histories, in mythology and as a saga, and there are a number of historians who believe they have reliable evidence of his existence. It is also possible that the Ragnar of legend is an amalgam of various Norse and Swedish leaders.

But each of the sons featured in the ancient manuscript Saga of Ragnar Lodbrok (and in the series) were historical figures responsible for some of the major events in European history.

While the costumes are largely inaccurate, the hairstyles and creative use of eyeliner is historically true. The kohl helped divert the sun's glare in the harsh Northern climate.

Time-wise, dates in the series have been manoeuvred for the sake of story. In the saga, Ragnar dies in 865 AD. Yet, Season One starts in 793 AD and includes the attack on the English monastery Lindisfarne that took place in the same year.

One of the more salient features of the show is an "unverified fact". Even though historians agree that the sunstone used for navigation must have existed, no physical evidence has ever been found.

Certainly, the most remarkable feature of Viking history was their ability to navigate across vast oceans.

Despite inaccuracies, Vikings is extremely popular. The settings are lavish and fights brilliantly choreographed. The episodes include sexually explicit scenes and bloodshed.

Season Three has been scheduled for 2015. Hirst is considering a time-jump to take viewers to - spoiler alert - the death of King Ragnar. But first, Hirst promises, the sacking of Paris in 885: hundreds of ships, tens of thousands of Vikings, two months of battle, death by hot wax and burning sand, a climbing wall made of dead bodies, and more.

Who will win? Luckily, you don't need to wait until 2015 to find out.

• 'Vikings' is on M-Net Series Showcase (DStv 113) at 10pm on Thursdays