Daring exploits and astounding achievements were common for two 19th century adventurersJohn Lloyd Stephens a New York lawyer and bestselling author and Frederick Catherwood a London architect and renowned topographical artist. Separately these explorers covered much of the same ground touring Italy Greece Egypt Arabia and the Holy Land in search of ancient sites that were of historical significance. Jointly these adventurers endured many lifethreatening obstacles in a determined effort that led to the discovery of nearly fifty forgotten Mayan cities buried deep in the jungles of Central America and Mexico. The vivid accounts penned by Stephens coupled with the magnificent drawings of ruins by Catherwood brought back to life a vanished civilization that both considered equal to the greatness of ancient Egypt Greece and Rome. The story concludes with the premature and tragic deaths of the two.