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Extraordinary people, discoveries, and places

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Life for this princess was no fairy tale

Her story is set against the dramatic political and cultural upheavals of 19th century Europe. Married off at 16 to the emperor of Austria, Elisabeth struggled with royal life and was sympathetic to the democratic desires of her people. So she sought a life outside the roles traditionally allowed for women—a life that ended with an assassin's knife.

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PHOTOGRAPH BY RICARD PLA BOADA

Long before the Roman Empire, these people set their legacy in stone

The ancient Mediterranean superpowers—the Phoenicians, Greeks, and Romans—all swept through this tranquil island at some point. But before they left their mark, the island's humble pioneers—the Talayotic people—carved out a life, building wondrous structures that still stand today on this windswept, largely treeless landscape.

SEE WHAT THEY BUILT

COURTESY LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, GEOGRAPHY AND MAP DIVISION

This rare Aztec map reveals a glimpse of life in 1500s Mexico

Early maps of the Americas made by indigenous people are extremely rare. This one, dated 1593, is one of a handful that have survived the ravages of time. It provides a fascinating glimpse into the early interactions between the indigenous people of Mexico and the recently arrived Spanish.

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PHOTOGRAPH BY SCALA, FLORENCE

The brutal beheading of Cicero, last defender of the Roman Republic

The statesman and philosopher is remembered for his unparalleled powers of speech and rejection of the tyranny he believed Julius Caesar, and later Mark Antony, embodied. To many, his murder in 43 B.C. marked the death of the Roman Republic—and the beginnings of the Roman Empire.

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QUOTE

As he leaned out of the litter and offered his neck unmoved, his head was cut off. Nor did this satisfy the senseless cruelty of the soldiers. They cut off his hands, also, for the offense of having written something against Antony.

Appian, a second-century A.D. historian

FROM: The brutal beheading of Cicero, last defender of the Roman Republic

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PHOTO BY MATTHIEU PALEY

Follow the legend of Cuélebre in Asturias

Within the ravines of Asturias’ mountain range, folklore speaks of a winged, dragon-like serpent cloaked in shadow. Believed to guard treasure, the Cuélebre emerges to feast on livestock, or any other living soul unlucky enough to cross its path. The ancient kingdom’s biospheres of grassy valleys and Dinosaur Coast offer great insight into the inspiration behind this dragonesque myth.

PHOTOGRAPH BY M. NOVAK / COURTESY OF THE INSTITUTE FOR ANTHROPOLOGICAL RESEARCH

A DNA study of 6,200-year-old massacre victims raises more questions than answers

The bodies were dumped in a mass grave in what is now eastern Croatia. For years, archaeologists assumed that the bodies belonged to an extended family who died in violence—but the largest genetic study of a mass killing to date suggests otherwise. Of the many questions it raises, the most significant is this: Why were these individuals killed, and who killed them?

THE PHANTOM MENACE

PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVID HERASIMTSCHUK, FRESHWATERS ILLUSTRATED

The overlooked world of freshwater animals

Freshwater makes up less than three percent of Earth’s water supply, yet is home to almost half of all fish species. We may never get the chance to see many of these mysterious creatures, though: More than 20 percent of them are imperiled or already extinct. Enter photographer David Herasimtschuk.

SEE MORE EXTRAORDINARY PHOTOS

OTHER GREAT READS

The mystery ancient toys puzzling archaeologists (BBC) ››

There maybe could possibly be a treasure buried under Portland, Oregon (Atlas Obscura) ››

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