In today’s History newsletter, why Maya civilization did not “collapse,” the most haunted road in America, and a throwback to when Americans drank poisoned booze—on purpose. 

But first: Meet the only woman privy to the plot to kill Julius Caesar.

ADOC-PHOTOS/ALBUM

When Julius Caesar veered toward authoritarian rule, two men emerged as the Roman Republic’s fiercest defenders: Cato the Younger and his nephew Marcus Junius Brutus. But there was another key player in Caesar’s assassination: Her name was Porcia.

More on famous women in history:
— She ruled Egypt and seduced the Romans. But who was Cleopatra?
— This controversial concubine became one of China’s greatest rulers

 ALLA AL-MARJANI/REUTERS/GTRES

PHOTOGRAPH BY VESUVIUS CHALLENGE

The Herculaneum scrolls, roughly 1,800 papyrus scrolls believed to contain literary and philosophical works from the first and second centuries B.C., were so badly damaged in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius that scholars feared the ancient library was lost forever. 

That has finally changed—with help from AI and a $1 million prize. 

ONE LAST THING: If you’ve been to New York, you’ve seen it: On T-shirts, bags, hats, you name it. Here is the logo that saved New York. 

Thanks for reading today’s newsletter, edited and curated by Jennifer Baik and produced by Alisher Egamov. Catch our latest Photo of the Week every Sunday—and sign up here to get our future adventures in your inbox.