No way that picture was faked. [citation needed], The city has a large population of over 1 million people, which some believe would benefit from the introduction of a subway system. However, the catacombs began to truly grow into their astonishing, labyrinthine form in the early 1800s, when the limestone quarried from them was used to build much of the city. [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. Two years passed, and no one retrieved the body, Lata claims. 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. 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. But he [Pugovkin] claims that when Armand Stendzenieks ordered a DNA test, it wasn't a match. Perhaps the most popular of catacombs is beneath the city of Paris, France. Learn how your comment data is processed. Some say this was even done maliciously. 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. 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. They could have been looking for treasures that night, considering there are rumors that somewhere below School 56 there's a solid gold replica of the Titanic a few inches long. The Moora Mystery: What Happened When a Girl Stepped into the Moor 2,500 Years Ago? She appeared to be on her hands and knees, in a crawling position. Imagine a glass you can bend and then watch it return to its original form. Above ground, the Fasciest Germans and Romanians would identify random catacomb exits and seal them off, hoping to trap them inside. The catacombs are on three levels, and reach a depth of 200ft (60 meters) below sea level. As the Vice article states, other bodies have been found within the catacombs, including one found during the search for a man who went missing in 2004. They look like my hiking boots, and I'm a woman. Instead, he claims they were looking for the body of Janis Stendzenieks, the son of a local newspaper magnate. 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. The sheer size of the catacombs meant a refuge for all walks of life that sought to hide. On January 1st, 2005, some Odessa teens decided to spend New Years night partying in the catacombs. The approximate topography of the Odesa underground labyrinth is unknown as the catacombs have not been fully mapped. 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. The mystery person was of no value at all, Pugovkin says. Despite very extensive searches neither his body, nor any clues about his fate were found. There is a rumor that the catacombs contain the stacked corpses of murdered Jews from World War II. Numerous reports exist of partially mummified human remains and skeletons that have been found inside the catacombs. 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. 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But according to the official Odessa Catacombs website, the whole story of Masha is a lie. Should someone get lost in the catacombs (as happens every couple of years), these groups put aside their differences and mount large search expeditions. We believe it is just a practical joke and the corpse is fake. Instead, he brandished an axe, and hacked the girl to death before leaving her there. It can be really dangerous," he wrote, adding "here are some new pictures of our catacombs. Those daring few that decide to explore the endless depths below Odessa are often surprised by a gruesome find. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Are the Misty Peaks of the Azores Remnants of the Legendary Atlantis? Descending into the darkness below the world, you are thrust headfirst into a deeply disturbing realm. Eventually, a journalist wrote about the body, and within 24 hours, the police came and had it removed. Or maybe they were looking for bodies. These men and women remained hidden, living in the catacombs. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. 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. By signing up to the VICE newsletter you agree to receive electronic communications from VICE that may sometimes include advertisements or sponsored content. I saw this video and did some research on it, ultimately deeming it to be a hoax. See. ( Artem Merzlenko /Adobe Stock). 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.. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. 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. We believe it is just a practical joke and the corpse is fake." Disturbing Tales of the Mysterious Catacombs Beneath Odessa. Nov 7, 2017 Kate Bulo. Jules Suzdaltsev contributed reporting to this piece. masha odessa catacombs photo. 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. 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. Since the organization is in charge of fielding inquiries about the Catacombs it "probably prefers to stay out of this business, just as I do," Lata theorized. I mean it's Vice. 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. One of these stories inevitably brings us to Masha, a student who should have known better than to venture inside the tunnels. It took a full two years before the police were able to locate her body and retrieve it from the catacombs. Every story is true, and each one is a real place you can visit. 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. The labyrinths are also unique by being largely unexplored and un-commercialized. The tunnels would become a safe haven for a plethora of different characters, most of them shady . Offer subject to change without notice. With over 1,500 miles of subterranean tunnels, Odessa's catacombs even beat out the well-known Paris Catacombs in terms of length. As fun as it is to explore catacombs, some people prefer to stay above ground and explore. It was a foggy night with temperatures hovering around freezing. Thats when they learned that she had never returned home her parents had assumed she was with them. . [citation needed], During World War II the catacombs served as a hiding place for Soviet partisans, in particular the squad of Vladimir Molodtsov. Old Odessa catacombs . aeries parent portal madera. Although the tale has long been reported as fact, even in newspapers, there is still a great lack of evidence, and few people are stepping forward to corroborate the sparse claims that to exist. Worse, she didnt know where she was, or how to get out. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. However, in the drunken revelry a member of the group, a girl named Masha, became separated and lost in the catacombs. The remaining catacombs (3-5%) are either natural cavities or were excavated for other purposes such as sewerage. Katakomby. Masha story is an urban legend. An eye-opening journey through the history, culture, and places of the culinary world. There you will find the legend of Masha. Actually, the walls of the Odessa catacombs are inscribed with thousands of writings, ranging from names to slogans to caricatures and even poems. Is it easy to get access to the catacombs? Bedroom of a Partisan living in the tunnels. The eerie burnt-out remains of a prominent building where 30 protestors lost their lives. But that has not stopped outsiders, or even local, daring, teenagers who are curious about, or even set on finding, the legendary treasures they contain. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. Masha had no food, no drink, and no phone service. Film Footage Provides Intimate View of HMS Gloucester Shipwreck, Top 8 Legendary Parties - Iconic Celebrations in Ancient History, The Spanish Inquisition: The Truth Behind the Black Legend (Part II), The Spanish Inquisition: The Truth behind the Dark Legend (Part I), Bloodthirsty Buddhists: The Sohei Warrior Monks of Feudal Japan, Two Centuries Of Naval Espionage In Europe, Human Origins According to Ancient Greek Mythology, The Curious Apparitions of Pagan Goddesses to the German Knights Templar, Research Confirms That 20% of the Neanderthal Genome Can Be Found In Modern Humans, The Truth Behind the Christ Myth: Ancient Origins of the Often Used Legend Part I, Evidence that Noahs Ark Landed on a Mountain 17 Miles South of Ararat, Theyre Alive! The earliest of the graffiti dates to the 18th century. Stretching to a length of 2500km, the Odessa Catacombs are prehaps the largest network of tunnels in the world. An underground paleo-Christian burial site composed of the remains of several cemeteries and Basilicas. -, Press J to jump to the feed. Authorities have also suggested that the photo is a prank, and that the corpse is a fake. Atlas Obscura. Such bomb shelters supposed to be refuge for civilians in case of nuclear strike or gas attack. The biggest and most serious efforts were made by a club specifically created for the purpose Poisk ( ). When we think of catacombs, we think of underground tunnels and chambers, locations where bodies were stored in lieu of a cemetery. ", 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. And some are full-fledged poems, written in the delicate Cyrillic cursive script, their authors lost to time. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. They were used as a source of cheap construction materials. [7], A 2015 investigation by Vice writer Mike Pearl similarly found no evidence that Masha had existed. [citation needed], In 1961 the "Search" (Poisk) club was created in order to explore the history of partisan movement among the catacombs. A photo showing Marsha's deceased body, mummified, found years after her gruesome death. is Halloween. The ancient Greeks were no different. And the size is further reflected in the fact that the entirety of the catacombs has never been explored. Situated in the very south of Ukraine, nestled at the shores of the Black Sea , Odessa is the sprawling and third most populous town in the country. They admitted that they had gone to the Stone Mines, and maybe, just maybe Masha had gone inside. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. According to Pugovkin, someone else had vanished in 2004: Janis Stendzenieks, the son of a newspaper magnate named Armand Stendzenieks. Detachment of Molodtsov near Odessa Catacombs. The next-largest network of catacombs is in Paris, and that's only one-fifth the length of Odessa's. I hope it's fake - but, unless that picture was fake, someone died the nightmarish way attributed to Masha. "I wrapped it in a bedsheet, and dragged it back," he told VICE through a translator. Believing this to be the best explanation for her absence, the group agreed and they left. Masha had died, still trying to escape. Odessa, just outside of Ukraine's capital, Kiev, is home to one of the largest catacombs in the entire world. Local here (finally, after years of reading, something got me to register). AtAncient Origins, we believe that one of the most important fields of knowledge we can pursue as human beings is our beginnings. 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. 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. But the most important inhabitants of these labyrinths were the Soviet partisans. She ventured farther down the tunnels and quickly got turned around. What followed for Masha was a three day trek from hell. (Author provided). "Besides the original photographer," a post says, "there isn't one person, civilian or law enforcement, that can confirm the story. 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. However, that hasn't stopped many people from making the same trip Masha apparently made. Amid yellow limestone walls and floors, young explorers found a body that was partially mummified by the cold dry air. 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. 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. "During the time she was inside, her 'friends' didn't try to take her body out," Lata wrote, guessing that they were "frightened.". Explorers are rewarded with finds such as weapons caches, and at least once every five years, the discovery of a body. Green Tour. She spent three days wandering in the freezing cold and pitch black before she died of dehydration. They were even known to blow up German facilities. 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. Irish Urban Explorations. 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? 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. 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. Even after the "Masha," episode, Lata continued to explore the catacombs. ( CC BY SA 4.0 ). Were theonlyPop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives. The group ventured deep inside and soon enough they got lost. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. He claimed that his best friend had led the expedition, and that he had been there when the infamous photo was taken. 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. Stop by the blog every day this month for true tales of the unquiet dead. 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." A massive search effort was launched but they werent able to find her among the 2,500 kilometers of often unmapped tunnels. If she was lucky, she died quickly from the cold. She didn't make it out alive, it's said. Strange and Creepy, Urban Legends and Folklore. Eventually the majority of the group managed to find their way back out but Masha never did. [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). 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. "Besides the original photographer," a post says, "there isn't one person, civilian or law enforcement, that can confirm the story. They didnt go inside, heeding the warnings their parents had given them. And while some people may seem content with the story as it stands, our view is that there existcountless mysteries, scientific anomalies and surprising artifacts thathave yet to be discovered and explained. Go to the left, go to the right, Youll only meet the darkness of the night, Another poem tells of the loneliness inside the tunnels: Sing not, oh nightingale, against my cell, and dont interrupt my prayer, oh, nightingale.. 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. All photos by Wikimedia Commons user . The only Ukrainians who have any official business down there are workers in active mines who still dig for limestone. The Tiara of Saitaphernes is certainly one of these priceless objects and its story is long and surprising. 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. Odessas catacombs quickly became the preferred hideout of rebels, criminals, and eccentrics. But despite being passed around the internet as fact, there is little documentation to support the legend of Masha. Stop by the blog every day this month for true tales of the unquiet dead. [citation needed], The first underground stone mines started to appear in the 19th century, while vigorous construction took place in Odesa. Top Image: Old Odessa Catacombs Source: onyx124 / Adobe Stock, Author Unknown. The story quickly became a famous Internet legend. An entrance to the Odessa catacombs is located at 4632'33.8N 3038'06.0E. 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. Her body was found only after 2 years. However, it's not te only creepy story - in 2012 group of students went below and one was lost. Many regions (such as the notorious 'K-29' network) remain largely unexplored to this day. 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. Shortly after this, the mapping of a large unexplored area known as K-29 began. 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! 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. And people do definitely die in catacombs and really any underground structure, usually homeless people seekingng shelter. But even though the city fell, its citizens didnt give up the fight. Another urban legend, far more popular, is the story of the lost treasure. Archaeologists have been able to take a closer look at one of the United Kingdoms most famous shipwrecks. We dare you. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. Padlocks cover this rickety footbridge with love. In the case of the Odessa Catacombs, they are a labyrinth-like network of tunnels under the city of Odessa. They're also a pretty good place to stage a murder. Mauritius Square, Ukraine: What is this Giant Crab-like Earthworks? What started as an ancient Greek colony, in time turned into a metropolis a crucial seaport and an economic hub. 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. [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.