The citizens believe that he still haunts these labyrinthine tunnels. Odessas catacombs quickly became the preferred hideout of rebels, criminals, and eccentrics. And people do definitely die in catacombs and really any underground structure, usually homeless people seekingng shelter. He quarreled with the teen, then led her into the catacombs where they could continue their argument. Places such as Aokigahara Forest. Learn how your comment data is processed. One of the teens was a girl named Masha, and she was simply going with the rest of her crew to have a good time. Actually, the walls of the Odessa catacombs are inscribed with thousands of writings, ranging from names to slogans to caricatures and even poems. Stop by the blog every day this month for true tales of the unquiet dead. She spent three days wandering in the freezing cold and pitch black before she died of dehydration. As I said earlier, a lot of people lost and even . 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. The catacombs were once 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. According to the investigation of the incident, the man was with a group of friends, and had been drinking with the young girl. 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. Even if they managed to find an entrance that was accessible, they were not to venture inside. The post featured a graphic photo of what appeared to be a decaying corpse in the catacombs, which Lata claimed was Masha's body. We dare you. 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. One of them recalled hearing her say she had to use the bathroom, and assumed, since she wasnt there, that she had gone home. Nov 7, 2017 Kate Bulo. [3] Many of the tunnels have been filled up with earth, concrete or sand by construction companies, and are no longer accessible. Shiver. Her partially mummified body was discovered two years later by amateur explorers. See. Find Out, Dizzying Inca Rope Bridges Were Grass-Made Marvels of Engineering, For Sale In Britain: A Small Ancient Man With A Colossal Penis. Masha had no food, no drink, and no phone service. Everyone was having a good time, drinking and having fun. 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. Today there is an entire Ukrainian subculture of catacomb explorers with dozens of semiprofessional groups, often quite competitive, exploring the catacombs. Masha story is an urban legend. ( Valentin Balan /Adobe Stock). Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. Rebuilt remains of a temple to Roman god Mithras. One interesting aspect of the tunnels is the fact that they are subject to a variety of highly imaginative urban legends. 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. [Online] Available at: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/mind-boggling-catacomb-maps, Thuras, D. Odessa Catacombs. "Besides the original photographer," a post says, "there isn't one person, civilian or law enforcement, that can confirm the story. Amid yellow limestone walls and floors, young explorers found a body that was partially mummified by the cold dry air. She made the decision to venture down into the mine for privacy sake. They look like my hiking boots, and I'm a woman. [7], A 2015 investigation by Vice writer Mike Pearl similarly found no evidence that Masha had existed. One of their group, a teenage girl named Masha, got separated from the rest. Try not to get lost. Some say this was even done maliciously. 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. 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." Last month, a guy in his 20s was sentenced for reportedly murdering his teenage girlfriend in the catacombs with an ax. It was a foggy night with temperatures hovering around freezing. ( Volodymyr Khodaryev /Adobe Stock). 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. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. 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. 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. As it turns out, many people still venture into the darkness seeking adventure. One story stands out among the rest, and that is the story of Masha. 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? Fake? Odessa, just outside of Ukraine's capital, Kiev, is home to one of the largest catacombs in the entire world. Pinterest Jules Suzdaltsev contributed reporting to this piece. What's worse is that it's believed she walked away from the entrance, farther underground, so that the temperatures dropped even lower. Come for the severed heads, stay for the book bound in human skin. The catacombs are on three levels, and reach a depth of 200ft (60 meters) below sea level. 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. Throughout the history of civilization, the concept of the apocalypse has been ever present, in one way or another. It took two years before the police were able to locate her body and retrieve it from the catacombs. Just beware, even professionals can get lost. However, one thing agreed upon is that there was a fresh body found in the catacombs, and that it was removed at some point around 2004 or 2005. However, in the drunken revelry a member of the group, a girl named Masha, became. So, is it really true? Eventually the majority of the group managed to find their way back out but Masha never did. [citation needed] Perhaps the most famous story dates back to claims made in 2009 by Ukrainian catacombs explorer Eugene Lata. I know you said he was never identified, but was there an investigation you can share with us? Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. In the photo, Masha is unidentifiable beyond simply being a human. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. A large portion of these tunnels due to the sheer extent and the number of corridors remains completely unexplored. vegan options at biltmore estate. She was headed into the Odessa catacombs, the 2,500 kilometers of dark rocky tunnels which run underneath the city. The Tiara of Saitaphernes is certainly one of these priceless objects and its story is long and surprising. "I wrapped it in a bedsheet, and dragged it back," he told VICE through a translator. Shortly after this the mapping of a huge unexplored area of the catacombs known as K-29 was begun. 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. 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. A group of urban explorers were pushing deeper into the mines, into one of the most unexplored areas, when they came across the body of a woman. 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. 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. It`s a dead body of the 19-years old girl, who has lost the right way in the maze. 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. 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. As of 2019, there are more than 1,000 known entrances to the tunnels. Various message boards shared the tale, and websites began to present the details as fact. She was headed . With over 1,500 miles of subterranean tunnels, Odessa's catacombs even beat out the well-known Paris Catacombs in terms of length. 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. All of these items are housed in a section of the tunnels which were used by the partisans. 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. His recollection is different from Lata's. Investigating the mysterious death of a young woman who wandered into an underground tunnel and never came outbut lives on as an internet rumor. They were even known to blow up German facilities. In the decades after the war, the tunnels became a safe haven for smugglers and criminals and they made more tunnels. It would be a strange, unfunnny practical joke. 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 very old skeleton of a partisan or smuggler. Old Odessa catacombs . (To get a sense of how much tunnel system that really is, it is only 2138 kilometers from Odessa to Paris.). Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. So it's a photo of a body that willit seemsnever be positively identified, and it immortalizes the last moment of someone's life. Eventually, a journalist wrote about the body, and within 24 hours, the police came and had it removed. 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. Worse, she didnt know where she was, or how to get out. Which Animated Disney Movie Should Get A Horror Adaptation Next? 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). The body is real though, it belonged to a man 40 to 60 years, who was killed in the catacombs. But the most important inhabitants of these labyrinths were the Soviet partisans. More photos surfaced, including additional shots of the tunnels and even bones. Perhaps they will never be. Irish Urban Explorations. [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. The eerie burnt-out remains of a prominent building where 30 protestors lost their lives. He claimed that his best friend had led the expedition, and that he had been there when the infamous photo was taken. See. Since its creation, it has expanded understanding of the catacombs, and provided information to expand mapping of the tunnels. It's always good to hear from a local. Instead, he brandished an axe, and hacked the girl to death before leaving her there. It is one of the world's largest urban labyrinths, running up to 2,500 kilometres (1,600mi). Odesskiy. 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. Several attempts at thorough exploration were made over the years. Mauritius Square, Ukraine: What is this Giant Crab-like Earthworks? Should someone get lost in the catacombs (as happens every couple of years), these groups put aside their differences and mount large search expeditions. Lata says he was there when that photo was taken, but he can't retrace the photo to its origin. Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed. Bedroom of a Partisan living in the tunnels. (Had they walked in a straight line the journey would only have been 9.5 kilometers.) 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. 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 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. They're not the safest places to be either. 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. Two years passed, and no one retrieved the body, Lata claims. ( eliosdnepr /Adobe Stock). masha odessa catacombs photokershaw oso sweet pocket clip replacementkershaw oso sweet pocket clip replacement The photo proves that Hell is a real place, and it's about nine stories beneath Odessa. By signing up to the VICE newsletter you agree to receive electronic communications from VICE that may sometimes include advertisements or sponsored content. 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. [Online] Available at: http://odesskiy.com/chisto-fakti-iz-zhizni-i-istorii/istorija-vozniknovenija-odesskih-katakomb.html, Richter, D. 2013. The largest catacomb system in the world. 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. Numerous reports exist of partially mummified human remains and skeletons that have been found inside the catacombs. On a more historical basis, it is also believed that the catacombs were used to murder and store Jewish people during World War II. Beneath the city of Odessa in the Ukraine lies a 2,500KM (approx 1,550mi) labyrinthine maze of tunnels, a little longer than the entire Pacific coastline of the continuous United States (map of the catacombs). [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). Top Image: Old Odessa Catacombs Source: onyx124 / Adobe Stock, Author Unknown. Murderer never found, the body ever identified. But when cause of death was found, they identified him as someone who had been murdered. 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. I'm not sure I believe the photo is fake. ( onyx124 /Adobe Stock). The group snapped a photo, in which three young boys pose with the body as if they have just identified it. We don't know for sure what Masha was looking for when she went into the catacombs with her friends. Green Tour. The rumors said it was deep underground, but from what they had seen, the body appeared to be fresh. Are the Misty Peaks of the Azores Remnants of the Legendary Atlantis? Some objects are especially prized because the story about them is so precious. Version of this photo sourced directly from Eugene Lata. Even after the "Masha," episode, Lata continued to explore the catacombs. Fine Art? She couldn't have lasted more than a week. A nation whose foundations stand on centuries of struggle and fighting for independence. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. He had gotten lost, and there was a reward offered to anyone who could find the young man. It's not unlikely that she drunkenly forgot to leave a trail of breadcrumbs. 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. 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. Mind boggling isnt it? Relics of the past in the Odessa catacombs, Ukraine. Today we find ourselves wandering the largest catacomb system in the world. [citation needed], There have been various reports of people walking into the catacombs, getting lost and then eventually dying of dehydration. And the size is further reflected in the fact that the entirety of the catacombs has never been explored. The Odesa Catacombs are a labyrinth-like network of tunnels (subterranean cavities) located under the city of Odesa and its outskirts in Ukraine, that are mostly (over 90%) the result of stone mining, particularly coquina. They tried to ignore the malnutrition and malaria which afflicted many of them. A massive search effort was launched but they werent able to find her among the 2,500 kilometers of often unmapped tunnels. Hundreds of partisans, or rebels, took to hiding in the catacombs. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. AtAncient Origins, we believe that one of the most important fields of knowledge we can pursue as human beings is our beginnings. Old Catacombs Odessa, Ukraine (XVIII-XX century) . 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. What followed for Masha was a three day trek from hell. 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. 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.. There's also evidence that they were used for the summary executions of Nazi soldiers. Sad mother monument, made in stone in the Odessa catacombs . Odessa, just outside of Ukraine's capital, Kiev, is home to one of the largest catacombs in the entire world. But even though the city fell, its citizens didnt give up the fight. . "The diggers determined it was a Satanist who got lost.". The post featured a graphic photo of what appeared to be a decaying corpse in the catacombs, which Lata claimed was Masha's body. 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. Catacombs below Odessa, Ukraine. A glass that you drop but it doesnt break. . 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. 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. 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 remains of more than 1,000 people lie deep under the modern town of Rabat. The Stone Mines, part of the Odessa Catacombs, were closed and sealed off in 1917. 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. The approximate topography of the Odesa underground labyrinth is unknown as the catacombs have not been fully mapped. However, that hasn't stopped many people from making the same trip Masha apparently made. 2019. After 73 days of vicious fighting, the town fell and was annexed to become a part of newly formed Transnistria Governorate under Romanian administration. Pacific coastline of the continuous United States. [1] The system of Odesa Catacombs consists of a network of basements, bunkers, drainage tunnels and storm drains as well as natural caves.[1]. Another urban legend, far more popular, is the story of the lost treasure. aeries parent portal madera. Proudly powered by WordPress If she was lucky, she died quickly from the cold . ", "That's why I really beg you not to try to walk underground in Odessa itself. Odessa catacombs, Ukraine <Reply # 19 on 6/16/2009 12:10 PM > Posted by ActionSatisfaction Esq. One of the reasons the catacombs of Odessa stand out is because they are by far the worlds longest catacombs. [Online] Available at: https://thinkofthetriangle.wordpress.com/2016/09/25/adventures-in-ukraine-odessa-catacombs/, McKendry, I. D. 2017. Down in the mine, for unknown reasons, Masha didnt turn around and leave once she had finished.