On January 1st, 2005, some Odessa teens decided to spend New Years night partying in the catacombs. 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. (Had they walked in a straight line the journey would only have been 9.5 kilometers.) After the war, the tunnels remained active with smugglers and criminal groups who went so far as to widen or even create their own tunnels. One of them decided to give it a try, they turned the handle and the door swung open. [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. Even though they never managed to explore the tunnels fully, the maps that these urban explorers managed to create are simply on the verge of being impossible. Maybe this photo will shock you. Layer by Layer: A Mexico City Culinary Adventure, Sacred Granaries, Kasbahs and Feasts in Morocco, Monster of the Month: The Hopkinsville Goblins, Writing the Food Memoir: A Workshop With Gina Rae La Cerva, Reading the Urban Landscape With Annie Novak, How to Grow a Dye Garden With Aaron Sanders Head, Making Scents: Experimental Perfumery With Saskia Wilson-Brown, Indigenous Desserts of Turtle Island With Mariah Gladstone, University of Massachusetts Entomology Collection, The Frozen Banana Stands of Balboa Island, The Paratethys Sea Was the Largest Lake in Earths History, How Communities Are Uncovering Untold Black Histories, The Medieval Thieves Who Used Cats, Apes, and Turtles as Accomplices, 10 of the World's Most Disorienting Places, http://odessitclub.org/en/archives/dallin/chapter_6.html#Catacombs. ", He told us he then dragged the body to the police medical examiner's office, about five miles from the entrance Masha would have used. There's an image that you may been seen that's been going around for several years. 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. Someone died. 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. [6], Since the beginning of the 21st century limestone mining has continued in the mines located in Dofinovka, Byldynka, and "Fomina balka" near Odesa. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. The whole story of Masha might actually just be an urban legend. Still left for anyone to roam freely, these tunnels are used just as several decades before by anyone who needs or wants to descend into its depths. And as one treads these tunnels which were never graced by the light of day, one can easily see that the horrors from the pages of novels such as Metro 2033, or from some iconic Lovecraftian horror, are firmly and terrifyingly rooted in reality. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. I tend to never believe Vice.. What started as an ancient Greek colony, in time turned into a metropolis a crucial seaport and an economic hub. Local here (finally, after years of reading, something got me to register). Jules Suzdaltsev contributed reporting to this piece. [citation needed], There have been various reports of people walking into the catacombs, getting lost and then eventually dying of dehydration. 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. 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. A little less than six months after the incident is said to have occurred, news began to spread among local cave explorers near Odessa that someone had spotted a body. Pearl did interview another man, Kostya Pugovkin, who claimed to have dragged the corpse in the photograph up and to a police station in the hope of getting a reward; Pugovkin stated that he was told by others that the dead person was "a Satanist who got lost". We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. "The diggers determined it was a Satanist who got lost.". But despite being passed around the internet as fact, there is little documentation to support the legend of Masha. Unfortunately, this area was unmapped, and quite dangerous. Some sections regularly flood with groundwater, others have ceilings precariously propped up with ad-hoc support beams, or they've had their ventilation systems completely dismantled. But he claims that when Armand Stendzenieks ordered a DNA test, it wasn't a match. "I wrapped it in a bedsheet, and dragged it back," he told VICE through a translator. [1] Parts were used as air-raid shelters during World War II. The citizens of Odessa believe a variety of myths and rumors that circulate about the catacombs hidden treasures, skeletons, and even ghosts. Despite this, they were once used by the Soviets who took Nazi soldiers down to be executed. Did Masha really exist and meet her fate in the catacombs, or is the whole story just someone's idea of a morbid practical joke? However, in the drunken revelry a member of the group, a girl named Masha, became. It's not unlikely that she drunkenly forgot to leave a trail of breadcrumbs. The catacombs also contain natural caves and span over 1,500 miles. 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. But some tourism still relates to them. He claimed that his best friend had led the expedition, and that he had been there when the infamous photo was taken. 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. During New Year's Eve celebrations in 2005, she and her friends had one drink too . However, that hasn't stopped many people from making the same trip Masha apparently made. Initially, police believed that he had simply gotten lost and died, as Mashahad supposedly done. 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. Whether that person is an innocent partygoer, a Satanist, or a Ukrainian drunk who took a few steps too many into the darkness, it sends imaginations soaring because it conjures the exact kind of nightmarish, lonely death everyone fears the most. Once the war was over, the catacombs became home to numerous smuggling and criminal groups, who widened and created new tunnel systems of their own. The ancient Greeks were no different. The Tiara of Saitaphernes is certainly one of these priceless objects and its story is long and surprising. You'd think they'd have them boarded or locked up pretty tight to avoid homeless people getting lost down there. According to rumors, a wealthy aristocrat from Odessa that survived the sinking of the Titanic decided to commemorate this event by ordering the creation of a solid gold model of the ship. Fine Art? The approximate topography of the Odesa underground labyrinth is unknown as the catacombs have not been fully mapped. Her parents called the authorities who went to the site and began to search. [citation needed], During World War II the catacombs served as a hiding place for Soviet partisans, in particular the squad of Vladimir Molodtsov. I know you said he was never identified, but was there an investigation you can share with us? The Odessa Catacombs and the Legend of Masha, The Fiery Darvaza Gas Crater The Scare Chamber, The Torture and Murder of Kelly Anne Bates, Alexandra Wiwcharuk: The Girl in Saskatoon, Practicing Cannibalism | The Scare Chamber, Alexandra Wiwcharuk: The Girl in Saskatoon | The Scare Chamber, David Parker Ray and his Toy Box of Torture, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Many of Ukraines cities have rich and lengthy histories behind them all filled with tales and secrets. In the case of the Odessa Catacombs, they are a labyrinth-like network of tunnels under the city of Odessa. But some places just arent meant to be explored. Were theonlyPop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives. Every story is true, and each one is a real place you can visit. It was cold, near freezing, and foggy on New Years Eve 2005. Relics of the past in the Odessa catacombs, Ukraine. After 73 days of vicious fighting, the town fell and was annexed to become a part of newly formed Transnistria Governorate under Romanian administration. An eye-opening journey through the history, culture, and places of the culinary world. A photo showing Marsha's deceased body, mummified, found years after her gruesome death. By the age of 10, most children in the United States have been taught all 50 states that make up the country. Ancient Origins 2013 - 2023Disclaimer- Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy -Submissions - We Give Back - Contact us. 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. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. 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. Rebuilt remains of a temple to Roman god Mithras. Should someone get lost in the catacombs (as happens every couple of years), these groups put aside their differences and mount large search expeditions. In the photo, Masha is unidentifiable beyond simply being a human. Last month, a guy in his 20s was sentenced for reportedly murdering his teenage girlfriend in the catacombs with an ax. Masha went out with a large group of friends to celebrate and probably get drunk. According to Pugovkin, someone else had vanished in 2004: Janis Stendzenieks, the son of a newspaper magnate named Armand Stendzenieks. Actually, the walls of the Odessa catacombs are inscribed with thousands of writings, ranging from names to slogans to caricatures and even poems. "There were four of us on the day when these pics were taken," he wrote, "and I really don't know where I can find these guys nowadays." Layer by Layer: A Mexico City Culinary Adventure, Sacred Granaries, Kasbahs and Feasts in Morocco, Monster of the Month: The Hopkinsville Goblins, Writing the Food Memoir: A Workshop With Gina Rae La Cerva, Reading the Urban Landscape With Annie Novak, How to Grow a Dye Garden With Aaron Sanders Head, Making Scents: Experimental Perfumery With Saskia Wilson-Brown, Indigenous Desserts of Turtle Island With Mariah Gladstone, University of Massachusetts Entomology Collection, The Frozen Banana Stands of Balboa Island, The Paratethys Sea Was the Largest Lake in Earths History, How Communities Are Uncovering Untold Black Histories, The Medieval Thieves Who Used Cats, Apes, and Turtles as Accomplices. [citation needed], The group of friends, he wrote, had all stayed there overnight, then left the next morning, but abandoned Masha, either accidentally or on purpose, and she was unable to find her way out. Come for the severed heads, stay for the book bound in human skin. What are you a professional corpsologist? On Wikipedia, catacombs are described as man-made subterranean passageways for religious practice. Maybe her path forked a few times, and she lost track of the pattern. The mystery person was of no value at all, Pugovkin says. Unfortunately, what they often find inside is far more grim than that. Either way, the main portion of these catacombs was begun in earnest in the 19th century and onwards, with stone being quarried to be used in the building of the houses of the city above. 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. Norimitsu Odachi: Who Could Have Possibly Wielded This Enormous 15th Century Japanese Sword? They decided to do this inthe Odessa catacombs, where they could have some privacy, drink, and have fun with a little added creep factor. During the Cold War, they served as bomb shelters. [4] It is thought that most (9597%) of the catacombs are former coquina multilevel mines from which stone was extracted to construct the city above. It is one of the world's largest urban labyrinths, running up to 2,500 kilometres (1,600mi). One of them recalled hearing her say she had to use the bathroom, and assumed, since she wasnt there, that she had gone home. We dare you. https://irishurbanexplorations.wordpress.com/2014/05/07/odessa-catacombs-day-1-odessa-ukraine/, https://thinkofthetriangle.wordpress.com/2016/09/25/adventures-in-ukraine-odessa-catacombs/, http://www.the13thfloor.tv/2017/04/11/183661/, http://odesskiy.com/chisto-fakti-iz-zhizni-i-istorii/istorija-vozniknovenija-odesskih-katakomb.html, http://www.thebohemianblog.com/2013/10/urban-exploration-odessa-catacombs_20.html, https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/mind-boggling-catacomb-maps, https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/odessa-catacombs, https://greentourua.com/the-lost-world-of-odessa-catacombs/, The Tiara of Saitaphernes: Wow Antique? The Iliad can provide new insights on the role of motherhood among the ancient Greek gods, and by extension, amongst ancient mortal Greek women themselves. I saw this video and did some research on it, ultimately deeming it to be a hoax. Built in the Soviet era, this cableway system still runs gondolas from Odessa down to Otrada Beach. 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. With his heart set on a possible reward, Pugovkin says he crawled into the depths and eventually stumbled upon what he called "bone soup." Parts of the mines are still active, but the majority of the tunnels remain closed to the public. Old Odessa catacombs . [6] Other caves attract extreme tourists, who explore the tunnels despite the dangers involved. Many of the tunnels have been filled, either with earth or concrete, however the majority remain open and unmapped. 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. In the morning, they braved the morning cold to get back to hearth and home. But when cause of death was found, they identified him as someone who had been murdered. 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. Even if they managed to find an entrance that was accessible, they were not to venture inside. Is it easy to get access to the catacombs? In World War II, Odessa was besieged in August of 1941 by the Axis forces. 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 only Ukrainians who have any official business down there are workers in active mines who still dig for limestone. Several attempts at thorough exploration were made over the years. The catacombs are not easy to navigate, especially when you're drunk like Masha might have been that night. Was this, then, the origin of the stories of Masha? vegan options at biltmore estate. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. [Online] Available at: https://thinkofthetriangle.wordpress.com/2016/09/25/adventures-in-ukraine-odessa-catacombs/, McKendry, I. D. 2017. Padlocks cover this rickety footbridge with love. After the communists came to power, this man hid both himself and the golden Titanic in the catacombs below, never to be discovered. Just beware, even professionals can get lost. However, it's not te only creepy story - in 2012 group of students went below and one was lost. The Dark Underworld of the Paris Catacombs. In doing so, they were able to provide valuable information for the mapping of the tunnels. But at some point in the night Masha decided to explore the catacombs. - BACKSTORY - The story goes like thisMasha or Mashenka, depending on t. The complete length of the Odessa catacombs comes up to around astonishing 2500 km (1553.43 miles)! However, a 2015 Vice Article alleges that Masha's story may be some kind of hoax, claiming that, according to the official Odessa Catacombs website, the whole story of Masha is a lie. Think of the Triangle. But being murdered and having your body dumped in the catacombs is a vacation compared to what is rumored to have happened to Masha. We don't know for sure what Masha was looking for when she went into the catacombs with her friends. Everyone wanted to see where poor Masha had met her end. She appeared to be on her hands and knees, in a crawling position. [citation needed], The first underground stone mines started to appear in the 19th century, while vigorous construction took place in Odesa. ( Artem Merzlenko /Adobe Stock). Everyone at Odessas School Number 56 had talked about there being a working entrance to the mine, just outside of school property. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. She was headed . Perhaps the most popular of catacombs is beneath the city of Paris, France. By some estimates, they span 1,550 miles, making the network a little longer than the whole Pacific coastline of the continuous United States. The image, it's said, is of a girl who went missing in the catacombs of Odessa, Ukraine a girl, it's said, named Masha or Mashenka, who went down into the twisting tunnels beneath the city in which she lived for a party, but got lost while she was down there. In 2011, a body was found in the catacombs that had been dead for several months. Eventually the majority of the group managed to find their way back out but Masha never did. Over the years there have been numerous reports of people venturing into the catacombs, getting lost, and eventually dying of dehydration never to be seen again. [citation needed] Perhaps the most famous story dates back to claims made in 2009 by Ukrainian catacombs explorer Eugene Lata. Numerous reports exist of partially mummified human remains and skeletons that have been found inside the catacombs. What followed for Masha was a three day trek from hell. Do you have any more information about the body that was found? Hiding in the catacombs for as much as 13 months, literally below the noses and feet of the Nazis above, the rebels waited for a chance to strike or relay information. Disturbing Tales of the Mysterious Catacombs Beneath Odessa. On January 1st 2005, a young Ukranian teenage girl named Masha put on her make-up, packed up some champagne, and headed out for her New Years Eve nights party. Atlas Obscura. Another urban legend, far more popular, is the story of the lost treasure. masha who died in the catacombs. In fact, these labyrinthine tunnels are so enormous, that they easily dwarf both the catacombs of Rome and those of Paris . Such bomb shelters supposed to be refuge for civilians in case of nuclear strike or gas attack. Pacific coastline of the continuous United States. Just one look at the maps will show you exactly why the Odessa catacombs were never fully explored the sheer size prevents it. Throughout the history of civilization, the concept of the apocalypse has been ever present, in one way or another. After the Soviets were forced out of the city, dozens of soviet-organized Ukrainian rebel groups remained, hiding below the city. The mystery person was of no value at all, Pugovkin says. See. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. If she was lucky, she died quickly from the cold . Part of the catacomb network, Odessa, Ukraine . masha who died in the catacombs; employee experience software market size; June 21, 2022; by . Or maybe they were looking for bodies. These catacombs are the result of stone mining, particularly coquina (a soft limestone of broken shells), and consist of a network of basements, bunkers, drainage tunnels and storm drains. Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. It was meant as a sort of warning for others to stay away, but it also lured urban explorers to the site with growing regularity. They were a popular location for murderers to hide bodies, and on at least three occasions, were a location where area kids had ventured inside, never to be seen again. Top Image: Old Odessa Catacombs Source: onyx124 / Adobe Stock, Author Unknown. The Lost World of Odessa Catacombs. We believe it is just a practical joke and the corpse is fake." They're not the safest places to be either. It was brought to a police medical examiner's office, and everyone found that, shockingly, the DNA didn't match the missing boy. But he [Pugovkin] claims that when Armand Stendzenieks ordered a DNA test, it wasn't a match. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. Even with all that, humans are resilient, and can survive several days without food and water. Some say this was even done maliciously. is Halloween. [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. And the size is further reflected in the fact that the entirety of the catacombs has never been explored. [5], Only one small portion of the catacombs is open to the public, within the "Museum of Partisan Glory" in Nerubayskoye, north of Odesa. Worse, she didnt know where she was, or how to get out. Authorities have also suggested that the photo is a prank, and that the corpse is a fake. 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. Part of the tunnels, only under the city, were turned into bomb shelters in the Cold War. Even if it's just a myth, there's no denying that the other tales of the catacombs are creepy enough to keep anyone out Or so one would think. Despite very extensive searches neither his body, nor any clues about his fate were found. The catacombs were once the preferred hideout of rebels, criminals, and eccentrics. Enjoy.". [1] An entrance into the catacombs. Eugene included a graphic photo of what appeared to be a decaying corpse in one of the tunnels, which Eugene claimed was Masha's body. In the decades after the war, the tunnels became a safe haven for smugglers and criminals and they made more tunnels. Try not to get lost. A large portion of these tunnels due to the sheer extent and the number of corridors remains completely unexplored.
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