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. 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. No purchase necessary. Masha had no food, no drink, and no phone service. list of hair dyes that contain metallic salts; eglin afb housing floor plans. Masha story is an urban legend. Even with all that, humans are resilient, and can survive several days without food and water. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. In the decades after the war, the tunnels became a safe haven for smugglers and criminals and they made more tunnels. Archaeologists have been able to take a closer look at one of the United Kingdoms most famous shipwrecks. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. The Catacombs are on three levels and reach a depth of 60 metres (200ft) below sea level. Beneath the city of Odessa, and also its outskirts, lie a labyrinth-like network of tunnels, known as the Odessa Catacombs. Authorities have also suggested that the photo is a prank, and that the corpse is a fake. 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. If she was lucky, she died quickly from the cold. She quickly became separated from her party, and unable to find her way back. 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. Relics of the past in the Odessa catacombs, Ukraine. [1] If it was too warm to freeze, and she was exerting herself trying to survive, dehydration would have become severe in perhaps only two days before the symptoms became debilitating. This was only aimed at the portions beneath the town center though, and the rest of the catacombs continued to develop some time after. Strange and Creepy, Urban Legends and Folklore. "I wrapped it in a bedsheet, and dragged it back," he told VICE through a translator. 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. Part of the catacomb network, Odessa, Ukraine . These lines give us a glimpse into the melancholic Slavic and Ukrainian soul of the past: No treasure, no happiness, you will find here, Though forehead knocks the wall behind the wall. To put things into perspective: the Roman tunnels are about 170 km (105.63 miles) long, and the Paris ones about 300 km (186.41 miles). 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. 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. dinnington high school alumni. Is it easy to get access to the catacombs? Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The tunnels have been cited as the reason why such a subway system has never been built in Odesa. The teens are said to have stayed down there all night. However, when the body was removed, it was in terrible condition, with no good identifying factors. During the Cold War, they served as bomb shelters. Masha had traveled several miles into the catacombs. Her story has that odd mix of too much detail and yet nothing verifiable that just screams urban legend. Jules Suzdaltsev contributed reporting to this piece. There is a rumor that the catacombs contain the stacked corpses of murdered Jews from World War II. Try not to get lost. Which Animated Disney Movie Should Get A Horror Adaptation Next? Catacombs below Odessa, Ukraine. I saw this video and did some research on it, ultimately deeming it to be a hoax. 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. Today we find ourselves wandering the largest catacomb system in the world. The labyrinths are also unique by being largely unexplored and un-commercialized. The body is real though, it belonged to a man 40 to 60 years, who was killed in the catacombs. What started as an ancient Greek colony, in time turned into a metropolis a crucial seaport and an economic hub. 31 Days of Halloween: On Atlas Obscura this month, every day is Halloween. Such bomb shelters supposed to be refuge for civilians in case of nuclear strike or gas attack. masha odessa catacombs photo. Last month, a guy in his 20s was sentenced for reportedly murdering his teenage girlfriend in the catacombs with an ax. This was a mistake. "It was hard to get to the top of the shaftit was like nine floors, tiers with skinny ladders between them. 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. 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." [Online] Available at: https://irishurbanexplorations.wordpress.com/2014/05/07/odessa-catacombs-day-1-odessa-ukraine/, Author Unknown. Najwitszej Maryi Panny Krlowej Polski > Bez kategorii > masha who died in the catacombs 11 czerwca 2022 hillsville, va labor day flea market 2021 natural disasters after 2010 He claimed that his best friend had led the expedition, and that he had been there when the infamous photo was taken. By some estimates, they span 1,550 miles, making the network a little longer than the whole Pacific coastline of the continuous United States. A vast country that prides itself on a history rich with heroes and artists. There you will find the legend of Masha. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. But at some point in the night Masha decided to explore the catacombs. Worse, she didnt know where she was, or how to get out. 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. Believing this to be the best explanation for her absence, the group agreed and they left. [citation needed], There have been various reports of people walking into the catacombs, getting lost and then eventually dying of dehydration. Some proof for the long existence of this myth are the countless graffiti ships that can be spotted in the tunnels. Part of the tunnels, only under the city, were turned into bomb shelters in the Cold War. Such tours are not officially sanctioned[4] because the catacombs have not been fully mapped and the tunnels themselves are unsafe. This myth has led many treasure hunters to enter the darkness of the catacombs in search of wealth. 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. The story quickly became a famous Internet legend. On rare occasions these bodies are almost perfectly mummified, freeze dried by the cold, dry air of the tunnels. In fact, these labyrinthine tunnels are so enormous, that they easily dwarf both the catacombs of Rome and those of Paris . 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. Like most information about these catacombs, only Ukrainian cave explorers even claim to know the details. Ukraine. . Post author: Post published: 22/06/2022 Post category: brenda payne hendersonville, tn Post comments: criminal fraternities 18th century criminal fraternities 18th century She couldn't have lasted more than a week. 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 post featured a graphic photo of what appeared to be a decaying corpse in the catacombs, which Lata claimed was Masha's body. Throughout the history of civilization, the concept of the apocalypse has been ever present, in one way or another. The dramatic story of the origins of humanity in Greek mythology involves love, pain, and a hefty dose of What is the origin of the legend of the Christed Son who was born of a virgin on December 25th? So it's a photo of a body that willit seemsnever be positively identified, and it immortalizes the last moment of someone's life. 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? After three days in total darkness without food or water, Masha collapsed and died from dehydration. [citation needed], In 1961 the "Search" (Poisk) club was created in order to explore the history of partisan movement among the catacombs. But even though the city fell, its citizens didnt give up the fight. ( Artem Merzlenko /Adobe Stock). Are the Misty Peaks of the Azores Remnants of the Legendary Atlantis? 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". [6] Other caves attract extreme tourists, who explore the tunnels despite the dangers involved. These men and women would play chess, checkers, cook, and listen to Soviet Radio, generally trying to make a normal life below the surface of the city. Parents in the area warned their children to stay away. Creepy stories about the Odessa catacombs range fromdead bodies found in catacombs, topeople who have gotten lost in catacombs and were never seen again. 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. Any chamber used as a burial place is a catacomb, although the word is most commonly associated with the Roman Empire. [4]Limestone was cut using saws, and mining became so intensive that by the second half of the 19th century, the extensive network of catacombs created many inconveniences to the city. All of these items are housed in a section of the tunnels which were used by the partisans. Parts of the mines are still active, but the majority of the tunnels remain closed to the public. Were heading underground to find out whether the tunnels are truly empty. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. 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. masha odessa catacombs photolet us break bread together meaning peaky blinderslet us break bread together meaning peaky blinders But the most important inhabitants of these labyrinths were the Soviet partisans. What you may not know, is that the largest catacomb system in the world is the Odessa Catacombs in Ukraine. But one Ukrainian town stands out Odessa. Maybe her path forked a few times, and she lost track of the pattern. Then, two things happened: either Chaos or Gaia created the universe as we know it, or Ouranos and Tethys gave birth to the first beings. 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! Masha went out with a large group of friends to celebrate and probably get drunk. 2023 Atlas Obscura. Shortly after this, the mapping of a large unexplored area known as K-29 began. Mind boggling isnt it? They're not the safest places to be either. [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). No one is exactly sure how she died, but it could have been dehydration or hypothermia. There are still hundreds of kilometers of tunnels that no one has been able to see all of we can only speculate about what kind of gruesome secrets still dwell deep within. 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!) Every culture has an explanation about how we got here. [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. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. It's not clear what the journalist wrote, but Lata claims the government got moving and removed the body less than 24 hours later. [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. 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. The next day, Mashas friends went to her house to see how she was doing. Shiver. 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. It does seem to be a urban legend but it's still creepy as hell! Sad mother monument, made in stone in the Odessa catacombs . Belief in malevolent spirits inhabiting the human body has persisted across cultures for millennia. What are you a professional corpsologist? In the morning, they braved the morning cold to get back to hearth and home. Mauritius Square, Ukraine: What is this Giant Crab-like Earthworks? In 1961, a "Search" ("Poisk") club formed in an effort to explore and document the catacombs. 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? - BACKSTORY - The story goes like thisMasha or Mashenka, depending on t. It was brought to a police medical examiner's office, and everyone found that, shockingly, the DNA didn't match the missing boy. Another urban legend, far more popular, is the story of the lost treasure. Even after the "Masha," episode, Lata continued to explore the catacombs. But most importantly, the Odessa catacombs are an incredible testament, an entire in-situ museum of incredible proportions filled with various relics of the past. Do you have any more information about the body that was found? 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. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Odessa, just outside of Ukraine's capital, Kiev, is home to one of the largest catacombs in the entire world. There's also evidence that they were used for the summary executions of Nazi soldiers. "Besides the original photographer," a post says, "there isn't one person, civilian or law enforcement, that can confirm the story. See. She made the decision to venture down into the mine for privacy sake. A glass that you drop but it doesnt break. Most of the diggers I talked to believed that he actually faked the whole thing and started a new life somewhere, but still look out for anything related to him below. [Online] Available at: https://thinkofthetriangle.wordpress.com/2016/09/25/adventures-in-ukraine-odessa-catacombs/, McKendry, I. D. 2017. As is the nature of people, and urban explorers, tunnels and caves outside of the trusted zone serve as an exhilarating adventure. Understanding the Mysterious Kingdom of Shambhala, The Green Children of Woolpit: Legendary Visitors from Another World, Medieval Sea Monster Was Likely a Whale, New Research Reveals, Adventist Adventurer Claimed to Have Found Ark of the Covenant Beneath Crucifixion Site, Iron Age Comb Made from Human Skull Discovered Near Cambridge, Caesars Savage Human Skewers Unearthed In German Fort, The Evidence is Cut in Stone: A Compelling Argument for Lost High Technology in Ancient Egypt, A Blazing Weapon: Unraveling the Mystery of Greek Fire. 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. Everyone wanted to see where poor Masha had met her end. 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. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. 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. Places such as Aokigahara Forest. Come for the severed heads, stay for the book bound in human skin. "The diggers determined it was a Satanist who got lost.". [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. 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. Assuming Masha brought a battery-powered flashlight or lantern down into the depths, it would have died after a few hours, making it harder to continue the search for warmth and water. 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. One of their group, a teenage girl named Masha, got separated from the rest. Eager to escape, she ran through the tunnels, not knowing she was heading the wrong direction. Hundreds of partisans, or rebels, took to hiding in the catacombs. Nor were her friends able to locate her. As it turns out, many people still venture into the darkness seeking adventure. Instead, he claims they were looking for the body of Janis Stendzenieks, the son of a local newspaper magnate. "Besides the original photographer," a post says, "there isn't one person, civilian or law enforcement, that can confirm the story. 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. When the group arrived, they found it easy enough, with two large metal doors. Above ground, the Fasciest Germans and Romanians would identify random catacomb exits and seal them off, hoping to trap them inside. 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. 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. "During the time she was inside, her 'friends' didn't try to take her body out," Lata wrote, guessing that they were "frightened.". Eventually the majority of the group managed to find their way back out but Masha never did. 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 complete length of the Odessa catacombs comes up to around astonishing 2500 km (1553.43 miles)! Masha always struck me as an urban legend. While you may have never heard of the Odessa catacombs, they are filled with legends and dark tales that you'll never forget. Drinking and debauchery went on that night, and for reasons unknown a young woman named Masha got separated from her friends and disappeared into the abyss. The ancient Greeks were no different. Pugovkin told us the elder Stendzenieks was offering a reward to anyone who could find his son, and some people he called "diggers"manual laborershad tipped off the authorities about a body two to three miles from an entrance to the catacombs. A 2009 forum post on the Urban Explorer's Resource (UER) site, by someone named Eugene Lata, put the tale into English, detailing everything from Masha's backstory to the grim discovery the group had made. The remains of more than 1,000 people lie deep under the modern town of Rabat. 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. [3] Many of the tunnels have been filled up with earth, concrete or sand by construction companies, and are no longer accessible. 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. In 2005, a group of urban explorers discovered the body of a dead woman named Masha who had disappeared . But without knowing the mind boggling extent of these catacombs, their efforts proved largely fruitless. The catacombs once served as the preferred hideout for rebels, criminals, and during World War II, air-raid shelters. Odesskiy. 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. 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. [Online] Available at: http://www.thebohemianblog.com/2013/10/urban-exploration-odessa-catacombs_20.html, Thuras, D. 2010. 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. All rights reserved. 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. Were theonlyPop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives. 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. A Tour of the Worlds Largest Labyrinth: The Odessa Catacombs. She had no food and no water, and the catacombs were freezing cold and dry. Try not to get lost. But some like to say that the earliest form of the catacombs dates to centuries before that, to 1600s or possibly before and thats plausible. Odessa Catacombs: Day 1 Odessa, Ukraine. Eventually, a journalist wrote about the body, and within 24 hours, the police came and had it removed. On Wikipedia, catacombs are described as man-made subterranean passageways for religious practice. I mean it's Vice. The whole story of Masha might actually just be an urban legend. Two years passed, and no one retrieved the body, Lata claims. | 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. Top Image: Old Odessa Catacombs Source: onyx124 / Adobe Stock, Author Unknown. Find Out. . Instead, it belonged to a girl who was never identified. 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.
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