( Volodymyr Khodaryev /Adobe Stock). Relics of the past in the Odessa catacombs, Ukraine. Eventually, a journalist wrote about the body, and within 24 hours, the police came and had it removed. The Tiara of Saitaphernes is certainly one of these priceless objects and its story is long and surprising. The post featured a graphic photo of what appeared to be a decaying corpse in the catacombs, which Lata claimed was Masha's body. The biggest and most serious efforts were made by a club specifically created for the purpose Poisk ( ). Old Odessa catacombs . However, it's not te only creepy story - in 2012 group of students went below and one was lost. Two years passed, and no one retrieved the body, Lata claims. Masha and a group of friends thought it would be fun to go out, party, and celebrate at the Stone Mines. Shortly after this the mapping of a huge unexplored area of the catacombs known as K-29 was begun. 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. Nefer Say Nefer - Was Nefertiti Buried in the Valley of the Queens? 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. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Odessa Catacombs: Day 1 Odessa, Ukraine. But according to the official Odessa Catacombs website, the whole story of Masha is a lie. [citation needed], After the Russian Revolution of 1917, stone mining was banned within the central part of Odesa (inside the Porto-Franko zone, bounded by Old Port Franko and Panteleymonovskaya streets). | She lies on her left side, legs curled like she's sleeping, while the upper half of her decomposing body has lost its form altogether, and has begun to turn indistinguishable from the cavern's yellow limestone floor. Odesskiy. An underground paleo-Christian burial site composed of the remains of several cemeteries and Basilicas. Inside the mine, the catacombs turned, forked, and led Masha further from the entrance. However, in the drunken revelry a member of the group, a girl named Masha, became separated and lost in the catacombs. The final resting place for the remains of 143 Habsburg royalty. A massive search effort was launched but they werent able to find her among the 2,500 kilometers of often unmapped tunnels. vrbo trip board comments; sysco teamsters contract; dr john gemma net worth. But at some point in the night Masha decided to explore the catacombs. [1] The system of Odesa Catacombs consists of a network of basements, bunkers, drainage tunnels and storm drains as well as natural caves. As of 2019, there are more than 1,000 known entrances to the tunnels. But despite being passed around the internet as fact, there is little documentation to support the legend of Masha. Numerous reports exist of partially mummified human remains and skeletons that have been found inside the catacombs. The Catacombs are on three levels and reach a depth of 60 metres (200ft) below sea level. Think of the Triangle. masha who died in the catacombs. [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. They tried to ignore the malnutrition and malaria which afflicted many of them. After a short time, they called off the search, saying that Masha would have to find her own way out, it wasnt safe for them to look for her any longer. I hope it's fake - but, unless that picture was fake, someone died the nightmarish way attributed to Masha. I was the only girl so usually I got out of it..but I did have to do it a few times and it was horrifyinglywhen you looked back it was total darkness! 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. 2023 Atlas Obscura. [1] Parts were used as air-raid shelters during World War II. 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. Based on where she was found it is believed Masha spent at least three days wandering in the freezing cold and pitch black before dying of dehydration. 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. Perhaps the most popular of catacombs is beneath the city of Paris, France. Stop by the blog every day this month for true tales of the unquiet dead. On January 1st, 2005, some Odessa teens decided to spend New Years night partying in the catacombs. In a post from 2010, he claimed that he used to take trips that lasted over a week, and that he'd fill his "catacombs bag" with food, camping equipment, diving gear, and mapmaking tools to prepare for long trips. Everywhere, hidden in the niches and the stone nooks, lie scribbled and faded poems, warnings and pleas. It was wearing jeans and modern shoes, and did appear to be the result of a fairly recent death. In September 1995, in honor of the 200th anniversary of Odessa, the longest underground journey in the catacombs was recorded. 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. As it turns out, many people still venture into the darkness seeking adventure. There are reasons why the Odessa catacombs are so shrouded in enigma and macabre reputation -many of those who ventured deep below have never come out. 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. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Those daring few that decide to explore the endless depths below Odessa are often surprised by a gruesome find. But the most important inhabitants of these labyrinths were the Soviet partisans. Of course parents saying not to do something usually encourages kids to do that very thing. In 2011, a body was found in the catacombs that had been dead for several months. After a while, the group was quite intoxicated, Masha included. Offer subject to change without notice. masha odessa catacombs photolet us break bread together meaning peaky blinderslet us break bread together meaning peaky blinders It's not unlikely that she drunkenly forgot to leave a trail of breadcrumbs. 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. They go on expeditions into the mines that can last several days, and document and map the area. "The diggers determined it was a Satanist who got lost.". The Odessa catacombs, even though slightly taboo and extremely eerie, are not illegal to visit . Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. It wasnt until six months later that Masha was found. Masha went out with a large group of friends to celebrate and probably get drunk. Mind boggling isnt it? Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). By the age of 10, most children in the United States have been taught all 50 states that make up the country. As I said earlier, a lot of people lost and even . 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. One interesting aspect of the tunnels is the fact that they are subject to a variety of highly imaginative urban legends. The complete length of these catacombs is more than half of the width of the North American continent. The catacombs were once the preferred hideout of rebels, criminals, and eccentrics. In World War II, Odessa was besieged in August of 1941 by the Axis forces. [citation needed], The first underground stone mines started to appear in the 19th century, while vigorous construction took place in Odesa. This was only aimed at the portions beneath the town center though, and the rest of the catacombs continued to develop some time after. In the 19th century, most houses in Odesa were built of limestone that was mined nearby. A nation whose foundations stand on centuries of struggle and fighting for independence. With over 1,500 miles of subterranean tunnels, Odessa's catacombs even beat out the well-known Paris Catacombs in terms of length. We'll make more! Padlocks cover this rickety footbridge with love. With his heart set on a possible reward, Pugovkin says he crawled into the depths and eventually stumbled upon what he called "bone soup." In another instance, a little more information was brought to light: in 2015, a man was sentenced to 13 years in prison for killing a girl in the catacombs. TheOdessa catacomb death legend has been supported by witnesses, as well as photos and even a few news articles, but there's not much as far as hard facts go. There you will find the skeletal remains of more than 6 million people. He then threw the axe into the sea. The date of the earliest catacombs in Odessa is difficult to determine (as they were all widened at a later date), but they likely date back to the 1600s, if not farther. No purchase necessary. 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. 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. Instead, he brandished an axe, and hacked the girl to death before leaving her there. I'm reminded of the infamous video of the guy supposedly wandering lost through the Paris catacombs - although I think I heard somewhere that was ultimately a hoax as well. The eerie burnt-out remains of a prominent building where 30 protestors lost their lives. The Soviets suffered malnutrition, and even malaria. She had no food and no water, and the catacombs were freezing cold and dry. The mystery person was of no value at all, Pugovkin says. "It was hard to get to the top of the shaftit was like nine floors, tiers with skinny ladders between them. 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. Or maybe they were looking for bodies. Then he added that a young boy had just been lost in an accident, and his body was still missing. [Online] Available at: http://www.thebohemianblog.com/2013/10/urban-exploration-odessa-catacombs_20.html, Thuras, D. 2010. Featured in one of the most iconic scenes in cinema history. But he [Pugovkin] claims that when Armand Stendzenieks ordered a DNA test, it wasn't a match. 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. However, when the body was removed, it was in terrible condition, with no good identifying factors. 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. The catacombs once served as the preferred hideout for rebels, criminals, and during World War II, air-raid shelters. 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. On Wikipedia, catacombs are described as man-made subterranean passageways for religious practice. 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. She spent three days wandering in the freezing cold and pitch black before she died of dehydration. By 2012, he had begun to sound less like the internet's ambassador to the catacombs. Every story is true, and each one is a real place you can visit. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. But without knowing the mind boggling extent of these catacombs, their efforts proved largely fruitless. [6], Since the beginning of the 21st century limestone mining has continued in the mines located in Dofinovka, Byldynka, and "Fomina balka" near Odesa. The story quickly became a famous Internet legend. See. 2016. [Online] Available at: http://www.the13thfloor.tv/2017/04/11/183661/, Pronin, K. . The group had to come clean. And the size is further reflected in the fact that the entirety of the catacombs has never been explored. 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. By that point the body was mostly a skeleton, so there were not many more details. He recalls that a piece of writing by a friend he says is a "famous journalist" was delivered to government officials. 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. The Moora Mystery: What Happened When a Girl Stepped into the Moor 2,500 Years Ago? Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. [Online] Available at: https://irishurbanexplorations.wordpress.com/2014/05/07/odessa-catacombs-day-1-odessa-ukraine/, Author Unknown. The catacombs also contain natural caves and span over 1,500 miles. All rights reserved. The body is real though, it belonged to a man 40 to 60 years, who was killed in the catacombs. Should someone get lost in the catacombs (as happens every couple of years), these groups put aside their differences and mount large search expeditions. There also would have been nowhere to stay warm, since that area is also not deep enough for it to have been much warmer than the chilly surface weather that night. 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. list of hair dyes that contain metallic salts; eglin afb housing floor plans. Just one look at the maps will show you exactly why the Odessa catacombs were never fully explored the sheer size prevents it. Descending into the darkness below the world, you are thrust headfirst into a deeply disturbing realm. They didnt go inside, heeding the warnings their parents had given them. 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. All rights reserved. Lata wrote a widely circulated online post stating that he and other explorers had found the body of a local student named Masha, who on New Year's Eve in 2005 had wandered into the catacombs with her friends after drinking. [Online] Available at: https://thinkofthetriangle.wordpress.com/2016/09/25/adventures-in-ukraine-odessa-catacombs/, McKendry, I. D. 2017. 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. Today we find ourselves wandering the largest catacomb system in the world. Despite this, they were once used by the Soviets who took Nazi soldiers down to be executed. Partisan weapon caches such as rifles and grenades are occasionally still found within the tunnels, and about once every five years a body is found. The Odesa Catacombs are a labyrinth-like network of tunnels located under the city of Odesa and its outskirts in Ukraine, that are mostly the result of stone mining, particularly coquina. "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." Excursions to Odesa catacombs", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Odesa_catacombs&oldid=1142761690, This page was last edited on 4 March 2023, at 06:27. Is it easy to get access to the catacombs? The people of Odessa and surrounding areas know better than to explore the catacombs. You'd think they'd have them boarded or locked up pretty tight to avoid homeless people getting lost down there. [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. The rumors said it was deep underground, but from what they had seen, the body appeared to be fresh. The earliest of the graffiti dates to the 18th century. 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. Shiver. Even with all that, humans are resilient, and can survive several days without food and water. She didn't make it out alive, it's said. This was a mistake. As the result of contemporary mining, the catacombs continue to expand. On rare occasions these bodies are almost perfectly mummified, freeze dried by the cold, dry air of the tunnels. Learn how your comment data is processed. Over the years, urban explorers have traveled to Odessa to explore the catacombs, despite only a small portion of them being open to the public. It's always good to hear from a local. They were even known to blow up German facilities. A vast country that prides itself on a history rich with heroes and artists. Many of the partisan groups lived in the catacombs for the entirety of the rest of the war, and on occasion the partisan groups even managed to blow up German facilities. Drunk and needing to urinate, she left the group, seeking a place to relieve herself. 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They're also a pretty good place to stage a murder. But some places just arent meant to be explored. I mean it's Vice. Was this, then, the origin of the stories of Masha? We believe it is just a practical joke and the corpse is fake. They are so incredibly extensive that someone who dies within can simply never be found. The largest catacomb system in the world. 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.