AtAncient Origins, we believe that one of the most important fields of knowledge we can pursue as human beings is our beginnings. (Author provided). ( eliosdnepr /Adobe Stock). I am sure you are familiar with his legend which states that he was born in a manger surrounded by shepherds, about The Tiara of Saitaphernes: Wow Antique? Masha story is an urban legend. Down in the mine, for unknown reasons, Masha didnt turn around and leave once she had finished. This makes it one of the more unique museums of that period as long as you dont strive from the beaten path! But without knowing the mind boggling extent of these catacombs, their efforts proved largely fruitless. The catacombs also contain natural caves and span over 1,500 miles. One of these stories inevitably brings us to Masha, a student who should have known better than to venture inside the tunnels. ", "That's why I really beg you not to try to walk underground in Odessa itself. A subreddit dedicated to the unresolved mysteries of the world. With over 1,500 miles of subterranean tunnels, Odessa's catacombs even beat out the well-known Paris Catacombs in terms of length. The post featured a graphic photo of what appeared to be a decaying corpse in the catacombs, which Lata claimed was Masha's body. Some proof for the long existence of this myth are the countless graffiti ships that can be spotted in the tunnels. masha odessa catacombs photo. They admitted that they had gone to the Stone Mines, and maybe, just maybe Masha had gone inside. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. But some tourism still relates to them. A man named KostyaPugovkinclaims he was one of the people that carried the body out, but it was never originally thought to be someone named Masha. Her friends never were able to find her, and the police saw neither hide nor hair of her, as they didn't want to venture into the mysterious catacombs. . Masha had died, still trying to escape. She spent three days wandering in the freezing cold and pitch black before she died of dehydration. View all photos. [Online] Available at: http://www.katakomby.odessa.ua, I am a published author of over ten historical fiction novels, and I specialize in Slavic linguistics. There is, however, a portion of the catacombs that is open to the public within the Museum of Partisan Glory in Nerubayskoye, north of Odessa. 2023 Atlas Obscura. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. It was a foggy night with temperatures hovering around freezing. Replies analysing and speculating over the mystery and possible explanations are encouraged. Fake? During the Cold War, they served as bomb shelters. Were heading underground to find out whether the tunnels are truly empty. In his last post, he wrote that the place was pretty much charted, and claimed that there's not much left to explore. Makeshift rooms, quarters, tables, and all manner of carvings and writings are all preserved and the entire museum serves as a strikingly unaltered glimpse into the urban warfare of the second world war. Maybe this photo will shock you. [citation needed], During World War II the catacombs served as a hiding place for Soviet partisans, in particular the squad of Vladimir Molodtsov. Her story has that odd mix of too much detail and yet nothing verifiable that just screams urban legend. "Besides the original photographer," a post says, "there isn't one person, civilian or law enforcement, that can confirm the story. They're the backdrop for the tragic tale of Masha, an innocent partygoer who ventured down into the depths with some friends, took a wrong turn or two, and got lost forever. I mean it's Vice. With tunnels that run up to 2,500 kilometers, the Odessa Catacombs are considered the world's largest urban labyrinth, significantly larger than the one in Paris, among others. The unsettling story of Masha, the lost girl of the Odessa Catacombs Masha was a student visiting Odessa that went drinking on New Years Eve in 2005. Instead, it belonged to a girl who was never identified. However, it's not te only creepy story - in 2012 group of students went below and one was lost. masha odessa catacombs photokershaw oso sweet pocket clip replacementkershaw oso sweet pocket clip replacement However, that hasn't stopped many people from making the same trip Masha apparently made. However, professionals can be hired at the cost of 250 hryvnia per person, depending on the time spent underground, the complexity and length of the route, the number of tourists, and options for delivery to the site entrance to the underground area. Numerous reports exist of partially mummified human remains and skeletons that have been found inside the catacombs. It was wearing jeans and modern shoes, and did appear to be the result of a fairly recent death. Everyone was having a good time, drinking and having fun. Katakomby. Odessa, just outside of Ukraine's capital, Kiev, is home to one of the largest catacombs in the entire world. By the age of 10, most children in the United States have been taught all 50 states that make up the country. Underrated Cinematic Survival Competitions, Great Movies About Missions Doomed from the Start, Survival Myths to Unlearn Before It's Too Late, Must-See Newer Survival Movies and TV Series, Great Movies About Kids Trying to Stay Alive, People Believe A Girl Died In The Endless Odessa Catacombs, But The Mystery Goes Much Deeper, the group had continued to explore the catacombs, a man was sentenced to 13 years in prison for killing a girl in the catacombs. Even with all that, humans are resilient, and can survive several days without food and water. Everyone wanted to see where poor Masha had met her end. The biggest and most serious efforts were made by a club specifically created for the purpose Poisk ( ). Aside from the TV episode which aired the segment (which you can find on YouTube), I've been unable to locate the supposed full video, nor can I find any footage of the video which wasn't taken from that TV show. Stories say that an ancient Roman glassmaker had the technology to create a flexible glass, vitrium flexile, but a certain emperor decided the invention should not be. These groups have even rescued a number of children who have wandered into the catacombs and gotten lost. Irish Urban Explorations. [citation needed], The first underground stone mines started to appear in the 19th century, while vigorous construction took place in Odesa. Everywhere, hidden in the niches and the stone nooks, lie scribbled and faded poems, warnings and pleas. If she was lucky, she died quickly from the cold. An entrance to the Odessa catacombs is located at 4632'33.8N 3038'06.0E. Strange and Creepy, Urban Legends and Folklore. Relics of the past in the Odessa catacombs, Ukraine. Part of the tunnels, only under the city, were turned into bomb shelters in the Cold War. After a while, the group was quite intoxicated, Masha included. According to the 2009 forum post on Urban Explorer's Resource (UER) by a catacombs explorer named Eugene Lata, who brought Masha's story to the English-speaking world, the tale begins late on New Year's Day (or possibly New Year's Eve) in 2005. It's not clear what the journalist wrote, but Lata claims the government got moving and removed the body less than 24 hours later. The very old skeleton of a partisan or smuggler. But some like to say that the earliest form of the catacombs dates to centuries before that, to 1600's or possibly before - and that's plausible. Is it easy to get access to the catacombs? As is the nature of people, and urban explorers, tunnels and caves outside of the trusted zone serve as an exhilarating adventure. Girl Lost in Odessa Catacombs 694,277 views Jun 2, 2016 15K Dislike Share ScareTheater 963K subscribers Previous Video: http://bit.ly/1ZhkLEh In 2005, the body of a girl named Masha was found. Enjoy.". The group snapped a photo, in which three young boys pose with the body as if they have just identified it. Based on what was later found, it is believed that Masha stumbled around in the catacombs for at least three days, starving, thirsty, alone, and in the dark. Approximately 32 members were sent to the catacombs in 1941 to sabotage the Romanian allies of German Nazis who occupied Odessa during World War II, when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. vrbo trip board comments; sysco teamsters contract; dr john gemma net worth. The Stone Mines, part of the Odessa Catacombs, were closed and sealed off in 1917. They began to drink, and occasionally worked up the courage to go inside the mine, taking a few steps in before turning around and running back out. An Unbreakable Story: The Lost Roman Invention of Flexible Glass, The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Unleashing the End of the World, Alleged Sighting of the Mythical Manananggal in the Philippines Causes Public Anxiety, What is Shambhala? Some sources claim that roughly five amateurs that descend into the tunnels never come out again and this really gives us an incentive to truly grasp the size of these tunnels. But according to the official Odessa Catacombs website, the whole story of Masha is a lie. When I was a teenager I was a tour guide at a local cave and at the end of the day someone had to walk to the back of the cave (45 minutes one way!) The Odessa catacombs, even though slightly taboo and extremely eerie, are not illegal to visit . Archaeologists have been able to take a closer look at one of the United Kingdoms most famous shipwrecks. An entrance into the catacombs. They have rescued a number of children who have wandered into the catacombs. The partial mummification made for a successful identification of the victim and the autopsy revealed that she died from dehydration three days after getting lost. About four months after New Years in April of 2005, word spread among cave explorers that there was a fresh body down there, Lata wrote in a his UER post in 2009. I used to go caving for fun and turning off your lights for a minute when you're with friends is kind of neat but walking out of a cave alone with that absolute blackness behind you nope nope nope. One popular myth is the story of the White Hunter a catacomb explorer of some notoriety who apparently never came out and most likely died while in the catacombs. The body is real though, it belonged to a man 40 to 60 years, who was killed in the catacombs. Today we find ourselves wandering the largest catacomb system in the world. She lies on her left side, legs curled like she's sleeping, while the upper half of her decomposing body has lost its form. A partial map of the Odessa catacombs. But one thing that this city of one million citizens hides, and a fact that many who visit it are totally unaware of, are the sprawling catacombs beneath its streets. Oddly, Lata told us the person responsible for the official Catacombs websiteand the one calling him a liaris "one of the most experienced Odessa catacombs explorers and my best friend." Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. -, Press J to jump to the feed. Just one look at the maps will show you exactly why the Odessa catacombs were never fully explored the sheer size prevents it. Masha had traveled several miles into the catacombs. The Odessa Catacombs underwent further construction through the vagrants' illegal widening and creation of even more tunnel systems. The official Odesa Catacombs website, however, calls the story a hoax. While most of the time the bodies found are from long ago, stumbling across old bones of soldiers and smugglers from more recent accidents has been known to happen. In the decades after the war, the tunnels became a safe haven for smugglers and criminals and they made more tunnels. Today there is an entire Ukrainian subculture of catacomb explorers with dozens of semiprofessional groups, often quite competitive, exploring the catacombs. Find Out. The Moora Mystery: What Happened When a Girl Stepped into the Moor 2,500 Years Ago? If the area near School 56 had no groundwateror clandestine wine or mushroomsthere would have been nothing for her to eat or drink. In 2009, a post was made on the urban exploration website UER which first brought forth Masha's story, and a photo of the purported body (warning: graphic) was posted in which three (possibly four) young urban explorers appear to have discovered her remains. Some time later, when the group was ready to call it a night and head home, they noticed Masha was missing. They're also a pretty good place to stage a murder. Actually, the walls of the Odessa catacombs are inscribed with thousands of writings, ranging from names to slogans to caricatures and even poems. By signing up to the VICE newsletter you agree to receive electronic communications from VICE that may sometimes include advertisements or sponsored content. The closest thing in real life to the deadly labyrinth of King Minosor, if you prefer, the one from the movie Labyrinthis a network of tunnels under the city of Odessa, Ukraine. The photo proves that Hell is a real place, and it's about nine stories beneath Odessa. Instead, he claims they were looking for the body of Janis Stendzenieks, the son of a local newspaper magnate. I know you said he was never identified, but was there an investigation you can share with us? Megalithic Sites Are More than Just Stone, Library in Stone: The Ica Stones of Professor Cabrera Part I, Two Sides to Every Story: The North American Martyrs Shrines and Indigenous/ Roman Catholic Relations, The Origins of the Faeries: Encoded in our Cultures Part I, Curse of the Buried Pearl: The Hunt for Ancient Treasures Part I, The Enigma of the Shugborough Inscription, The Znojmo Catacombs: A Maze of Tunnels Where No Enemies Escaped Alive. The rumors said it was deep underground, but from what they had seen, the body appeared to be fresh. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. 2014. The citizens believe that he still haunts these labyrinthine tunnels. His recollection is different from Lata's. One interesting aspect of the tunnels is the fact that they are subject to a variety of highly imaginative urban legends. No purchase necessary. After 73 days of vicious fighting, the town fell and was annexed to become a part of newly formed Transnistria Governorate under Romanian administration. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. For those interested in exploring the catacombs, with less risk, you can hire a professional to take you down. The group supposedly went to the police, but they were still reluctant to go in to retrieve the body because it was literally miles from the entrance. Odessas Mindbending Catacomb Maps. But he [Pugovkin] claims that when Armand Stendzenieks ordered a DNA test, it wasn't a match. ", Personally, I find this story absolutely terrifying; the thought of stumbling around lost in 2,500KM of tunnels with no lights and eventually dying alone is a kind of terror I hope to never experience. She made the decision to venture down into the mine for privacy sake. ( gorinov /Adobe Stock). Such bomb shelters supposed to be refuge for civilians in case of nuclear strike or gas attack. What you may not know, is that the largest catacomb system in the world is the Odessa Catacombs in Ukraine. But he claims that when Armand Stendzenieks ordered a DNA test, it wasn't a match. Disturbing Tales of the Mysterious Catacombs Beneath Odessa. It doesn't seem too unbelievable to me that a group of kids exploring where they're not supposed be might not report a long -dead body. The Catacombs are on three levels and reach a depth of 60 metres (200ft) below sea level. The most famous photoone that Lata told VICE in an email that he was involved in takingshows three blank-faced boys who look like they're in their early teens, posing like they've just stumbled upon the body in a narrow, curved section of the cavern. Thegoal of Ancient Origins is to highlight recent archaeological discoveries, peer-reviewed academic research and evidence, as well as offering alternative viewpoints and explanations of science, archaeology, mythology, religion and history around the globe. By 2012, he had begun to sound less like the internet's ambassador to the catacombs. On January 1st, 2005, some Odessa teens decided to spend New Year's night partying in the catacombs. Though Masha wasnt particularly interested in going to the mine, she went anyway, wanting to be with her friends more. And what awaits is a journey that comes so eerily close to something from the pages of Metro 2033 or the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. There's no way any one person could ever witness the true scale of the Odessa Catacombs; explore all 2,500km of tunnel. But centuries ago, the land that is now the United States was a very different place As Greek mythology goes, the universe was once a big soup of nothingness. She went to do a little exploring with the others and quickly became separated from the group among the maze-like corridors. The sticking point of this famous story is that no one is sure if it really happened. The complete length of the Odessa catacombs comes up to around astonishing 2500 km (1553.43 miles)! As of 2019, there are more than 1,000 known entrances to the tunnels. But at some point in the night Masha decided to explore the catacombs. In September 1995, in honor of the 200th anniversary of Odessa, the record for the longest underground journey in the catacombs was broken by a 27-hour continuos journey of over 40 kilometers. In the end, we cannot be entirely sure if the story of Masha'sill-fated party, nor her sad demise, is accurate, and that may never change. They're not the safest places to be either. Ancient Origins 2013 - 2023Disclaimer- Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy -Submissions - We Give Back - Contact us. Kostya Pugovkin, who identified himself as a veteran of Ukraine's Antiterrorist Operation based in Odessa, claims to be the one who personally hefted the body in that photograph out of the depths. But the most important inhabitants of these labyrinths were the Soviet partisans. Besides Masha and the missing boy, there have been other stories of people who have died in the catacombs, and not just from getting lost. This was only aimed at the portions beneath the town center though, and the rest of the catacombs continued to develop some time after. [6] Other caves attract extreme tourists, who explore the tunnels despite the dangers involved. Someone died. [Online] Available at: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/odessa-catacombs, Unknown. Some say this was even done maliciously. Several attempts at thorough exploration were made over the years. Ukraine. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. In the case of the Odessa Catacombs, they are a labyrinth-like network of tunnels under the city of Odessa. Lists of true accounts of real people who survived unfathomable situations and depictions of fights for survival in film, TV, video games, and other media. In 2011, a male murder victim was found by chance in the catacombs after he had been dead for three to six months. They became a hiding place for Soviet partisans. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. But some places just arent meant to be explored. No doubt, many bodies remain hidden in the mines. There are stories of industrious winemakers and mushroom growers who go down there regularly to leave their product to age or grow, confident no one will find it and interfere. The mystery person was of no value at all, Pugovkin says. It's not known if they were former students of Odessa's School Number 56, but according to references to the story in Russian news, that's where they found the entrance to the mines. The only Ukrainians who have any official business down there are workers in active mines who still dig for limestone. It took a full two years before the police were able to locate her body and retrieve it from the catacombs. It is one of the world's largest urban labyrinths, running up to 2,500 kilometres (1,600mi). Offer subject to change without notice. "I wrapped it in a bedsheet, and dragged it back," he told VICE through a translator. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. [Online] Available at: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/mind-boggling-catacomb-maps, Thuras, D. Odessa Catacombs. Skeletons and mummified animal corpses , World War II weapon caches, archaic items and human corpses. 2019. [5], Only one small portion of the catacombs is open to the public, within the "Museum of Partisan Glory" in Nerubayskoye, north of Odesa. Was this, then, the origin of the stories of Masha? Stop by the blog every day this month for true tales of the unquiet dead. Jules Suzdaltsev contributed reporting to this piece. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. direct entry speech pathology programs near illinois. The Soviets suffered malnutrition, and even malaria. The earliest of the graffiti dates to the 18th century. The post featured a graphic photo of what appeared to be a decaying corpse in the catacombs, which Lata claimed was Masha's body. After the incident, Lata said that the group had continued to explore the catacombs, and that they would sometimes go down there for days at a time. Part of the catacomb network, Odessa, Ukraine . The mining operations would soon spiral almost out of control, causing some issues for the town itself, until they would be temporarily banned after 1917. It is dedicated to the partisan effort of the World War II and it is filled with relics of the period, almost all of which were found within the catacombs over the years. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. The remains of more than 1,000 people lie deep under the modern town of Rabat. However, in the drunken revelry a member of the group, a girl named Masha, became separated and lost in the catacombs. ( onyx124 /Adobe Stock). We don't know for sure what Masha was looking for when she went into the catacombs with her friends. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. A vast country that prides itself on a history rich with heroes and artists. Belief in malevolent spirits inhabiting the human body has persisted across cultures for millennia. However, in the drunken revelry a member of the group, a girl named Masha, became. aeries parent portal madera. The catacombs are on three levels, and reach a depth of 200ft (60 meters) below sea level. [7], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}463248N 303750E / 46.54667N 30.63056E / 46.54667; 30.63056, "People Believe a Girl Died in the Endless Odessa Catacombs, but the Mystery Goes Much Deeper", "Dark secrets of Odessa's vast catacomb labyrinth", "Subterranea of Ukraine: Odessa Catacombs", "The Enduring Legend of the Girl Who Died in Odessa's Catacombs", "The Odesa catacombs. Some are simple, but still informative: Fedor Troyanenko earned 10 rubles and 99 kopeks year 1907. Others are simple dates Written in 1842. There are some that are enigmatic and biblical, macabre and ominous: I die for your sins. ; Blood for blood; Death for death. or God will never save our souls.. The final resting place for the remains of 143 Habsburg royalty. Winner will be selected at random on 04/01/2023. Despite very extensive searches neither his body, nor any clues about his fate were found. Here they lived slept, cooked, organized raids, and fought. As the result of contemporary mining, the catacombs continue to expand. They are so incredibly extensive that someone who dies within can simply never be found. During WWII, although the Soviets had been forced out of the city, they left behind dozens of soviet-organized Ukrainian rebel groups hidden below the city in the expansive catacombs. The legend goes a little something like this: In 2005, a group of teenagers headed out on New Year's Eve (or New Year's Day, depending on the source) to have a little party. ( Volodymyr Khodaryev /Adobe Stock). Inside the mine, the catacombs turned, forked, and led Masha further from the entrance. He then threw the axe into the sea. Try not to get lost. In 1961, the Search (Poisk) club was created, headed by Constantine Pronin of the Paleontological Museum of OSU, and became the first official catacomb exploration unit, meant to explore the catacombs and help document the history of the partisan movement. [2] According to urban legend, these mines were abandoned and later used and widened by local smugglers who created a labyrinth of tunnels and hid treasure beneath Odesa. Local here (finally, after years of reading, something got me to register). She didn't make it out alive, it's said. By bringing together top experts and authors, this archaeology website explores lost civilizations, examines sacred writings, tours ancient places, investigates ancient discoveries and questions mysterious happenings. This was enough to drive a group of explorers to the area in search of the supposed corpse, and it appeared they actually found it. It took two years before the police were able to locate her body and retrieve it from the catacombs. The mystery person was of no value at all, Pugovkin says. The eerie burnt-out remains of a prominent building where 30 protestors lost their lives. Which Animated Disney Movie Should Get A Horror Adaptation Next? [Online] Available at: https://greentourua.com/the-lost-world-of-odessa-catacombs/, Various. Amid yellow limestone walls and floors, young explorers found a body that was partially mummified by the cold dry air. is Halloween. [citation needed], There have been various reports of people walking into the catacombs, getting lost and then eventually dying of dehydration. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. They were even known to blow up German facilities. The Odessa catacombs are a very complicated system of natural tunnels, mines, bunkers, and caves that are predominantly a result of mining with the earliest excavations beginning in the 19th century. In hopes to counter the threat of the partisans, Romanian Axis troops attempted to seal several tunnel exits, as well as tossing poison gas into the tunnels. Beneath its streets, under the slowly unraveling everyday lives of its citizens, lies a sprawling network of tunnels and catacombs, an enigmatic web of dark corridors that built up a reputation of macabre proportions. One of them decided to give it a try, they turned the handle and the door swung open. There's an image that you may been seen that's been going around for several years. The ancient Greeks were no different. Beneath the city of Odessa, and also its outskirts, lie a labyrinth-like network of tunnels, known as the Odessa Catacombs. Masha and a group of friends thought it would be fun to go out, party, and celebrate at the Stone Mines. One of their group, a teenage girl named Masha, got separated from the rest. Odessa catacombs, Ukraine <Reply # 19 on 6/16/2009 12:10 PM > Posted by ActionSatisfaction Esq. The catacombs were once the preferred hideout of rebels, criminals, and eccentrics. The group ventured deep inside and soon enough they got lost. Last month, a guy in his 20s was sentenced for reportedly murdering his teenage girlfriend in the catacombs with an ax. Maybe her path forked a few times, and she lost track of the pattern. These men and women remained hidden, living in the catacombs. In Odessa, when someones water line suddenly breaks, or a house settles oddly, or a family pet goes missing, it is not uncommon for Ukrainians to curse about those damn catacombs., They are not being delusional, for underneath their houses run some 2,500 kilometers of catacombs, carved into the limestone that the city is built upon. Always pursuing my passions for writing, history and literature, I strive to deliver a thrilling and captivating read that touches upon history's most Read More. . All rights reserved. However, when the body was removed, it was in terrible condition, with no good identifying factors.