[Online] Available at: http://www.thebohemianblog.com/2013/10/urban-exploration-odessa-catacombs_20.html, Thuras, D. 2010. Her parents called the authorities who went to the site and began to search. Fake? 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. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. Part of the catacomb network, Odessa, Ukraine . This makes it one of the more unique museums of that period as long as you dont strive from the beaten path! By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 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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. The post featured a graphic photo of what appeared to be a decaying corpse in the catacombs, which Lata claimed was Masha's body. Masha had no food, no drink, and no phone service. 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. However, that hasn't stopped many people from making the same trip Masha apparently made. 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. 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. 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. I tend to never believe Vice.. 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. The Soviets suffered malnutrition, and even malaria. 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). 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. Here they lived slept, cooked, organized raids, and fought. masha odessa catacombs photolet us break bread together meaning peaky blinderslet us break bread together meaning peaky blinders ( gorinov /Adobe Stock). Makeshift rooms, quarters, tables, and all manner of carvings and writings are all preserved and the entire museum serves as a strikingly unaltered glimpse into the urban warfare of the second world war. 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. Actually, the walls of the Odessa catacombs are inscribed with thousands of writings, ranging from names to slogans to caricatures and even poems. She was headed into the Odessa catacombs, the 2,500 kilometers of dark rocky tunnels which run underneath the city. The Dark Underworld of the Paris Catacombs. 2017. Theme: Baskerville 2 by Anders Noren. [citation needed], There have been various reports of people walking into the catacombs, getting lost and then eventually dying of dehydration. kenmore west in memoriam; sabor dulce en la boca coronavirus; traditional catholic novenas 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. 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. The catacombs were once the preferred hideout of rebels, criminals, and eccentrics. . Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. The biggest and most serious efforts were made by a club specifically created for the purpose Poisk ( ). 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. Everyone at Odessas School Number 56 had talked about there being a working entrance to the mine, just outside of school property. Stop by the blog every day this month for true tales of the unquiet dead. ( eliosdnepr /Adobe Stock). However, it's not te only creepy story - in 2012 group of students went below and one was 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. It's not clear what the journalist wrote, but Lata claims the government got moving and removed the body less than 24 hours later. Her story has that odd mix of too much detail and yet nothing verifiable that just screams urban legend. The catacombs are not easy to navigate, especially when you're drunk like Masha might have been that night. 13th Floor. [Online] Available at: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/mind-boggling-catacomb-maps, Thuras, D. Odessa Catacombs. Were theonlyPop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives. It does seem to be a urban legend but it's still creepy as hell! Some time later, when the group was ready to call it a night and head home, they noticed Masha was missing. [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. 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. Odesskiy. 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. is Halloween. Rifles, machine guns, equipment and personal items all were discovered lost or abandoned in virtually pristine condition. Winner will be selected at random on 04/01/2023. Drunk and needing to urinate, she left the group, seeking a place to relieve herself. 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. Was this, then, the origin of the stories of Masha? masha odessa catacombs photokershaw oso sweet pocket clip replacementkershaw oso sweet pocket clip replacement They present thousands of crisscrossed tunnels, intersections, corridors, galleries, and caverns, all entwined and endlessly sprawling like some chaotic maze of ant tunnels. No one is exactly sure how she died, but it could have been dehydration or hypothermia. Then he added that a young boy had just been lost in an accident, and his body was still missing. But when cause of death was found, they identified him as someone who had been murdered. They were even known to blow up German facilities. Replies analysing and speculating over the mystery and possible explanations are encouraged. Pacific coastline of the continuous United States. Strange and Creepy, Urban Legends and Folklore. While going into the catacombs is not illegal, there is only one small portion of the catacombs that is officially open to the public, which can be seen at the Museum of Partisan Glory in Nerubayskoye, north of Odessa. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. An entrance into the catacombs. 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? Murderer never found, the body ever identified. Various message boards shared the tale, and websites began to present the details as fact. They go on multi-day underground treks, known as expeditions, to document and map the system. His recollection is different from Lata's. 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. 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. "The diggers determined it was a Satanist who got lost.". 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. Her partially mummified body was discovered two years later by amateur explorers. 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 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. Worse, she didnt know where she was, or how to get out. vegan options at biltmore estate. In 2005, a group of urban explorers discovered the body of a dead woman named Masha who had disappeared . (Had they walked in a straight line the journey would only have been 9.5 kilometers.) "Besides the original photographer," a post says, "there isn't one person, civilian or law enforcement, that can confirm the story. Try not to get lost. No purchase necessary. There's no way any one person could ever witness the true scale of the Odessa Catacombs; explore all 2,500km of tunnel. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. masha who died in the catacombs. Just beware, even professionals can get lost. 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. Rebuilt remains of a temple to Roman god Mithras. Of course parents saying not to do something usually encourages kids to do that very thing. Believing this to be the best explanation for her absence, the group agreed and they left. In 2011, a male murder victim was found by chance in the catacombs after he had been dead for three to six months. Masha had died, still trying to escape. ( Artem Merzlenko /Adobe Stock). [1] The system of Odesa Catacombs consists of a network of basements, bunkers, drainage tunnels and storm drains as well as natural caves.[1]. But one such find could not remain a secret. Offer subject to change without notice. It was cold, near freezing, and foggy on New Years Eve 2005. It would have been utterly black. [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. She quickly became separated from her party, and unable to find her way back. In Odessa, when someones water line suddenly breaks, or a house settles oddly, or a family pet goes missing, it is not uncommon for Ukrainians to curse about those damn catacombs., They are not being delusional, for underneath their houses run some 2,500 kilometers of catacombs, carved into the limestone that the city is built upon. Should someone get lost in the catacombs (as happens every couple of years), these groups put aside their differences and mount large search expeditions. 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.. 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." Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). Were heading underground to find out whether the tunnels are truly empty. Atlas Obscura. Unfortunately, what they often find inside is far more grim than that. 2023 Atlas Obscura. If she was lucky, she died quickly from the cold. In the morning, they braved the morning cold to get back to hearth and home. But catacombs can be more than religious passageways or burial grounds. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. [Online] Available at: https://irishurbanexplorations.wordpress.com/2014/05/07/odessa-catacombs-day-1-odessa-ukraine/, Author Unknown. He claimed that his best friend had led the expedition, and that he had been there when the infamous photo was taken. ", "That's why I really beg you not to try to walk underground in Odessa itself. 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. Fake? [Online] Available at: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/odessa-catacombs, Unknown. By that point the body was mostly a skeleton, so there were not many more details. 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. Several attempts at thorough exploration were made over the years. The catacombs are on three levels, and reach a depth of 200ft (60 meters) below sea level. Shiver. richard guichelaar update. . 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. 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. 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. During the Middle Ages, exorcisms were commonplace to rid individuals of supposed demonic possession. ( Valentin Balan /Adobe Stock). The post featured a graphic photo of what appeared to be a decaying corpse in the catacombs, which Lata claimed was Masha's body. She made the decision to venture down into the mine for privacy sake. This was a mistake. But we do know that the confirmed tales of the catacombs, as well as its history, are still filled with gloom, death, and horror. 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. A partial map of the Odessa catacombs. We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the worlds hidden wonders. Shortly after this the mapping of a huge unexplored area of the catacombs known as K-29 was begun. By some estimates, they span 1,550 miles, making the network a little longer than the whole Pacific coastline of the continuous United States. Even after the "Masha," episode, Lata continued to explore the catacombs. 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. 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. The sticking point of this famous story is that no one is sure if it really happened. The citizens of Odessa believe a variety of myths and rumors that circulate about the catacombs hidden treasures, skeletons, and even ghosts. Besides Masha and the missing boy, there have been other stories of people who have died in the catacombs, and not just from getting lost. She was headed . There's an image that you may been seen that's been going around for several years. 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. Our open community is dedicated to digging into the origins of our species on planet earth, and question wherever the discoveries might take us. Which Animated Disney Movie Should Get A Horror Adaptation Next? Just one look at the maps will show you exactly why the Odessa catacombs were never fully explored the sheer size prevents it. One of them recalled hearing her say she had to use the bathroom, and assumed, since she wasnt there, that she had gone home. What followed for Masha was a three day trek from hell. We dare you. ( CC BY SA 4.0 ). In the case of the Odessa Catacombs, they are a labyrinth-like network of tunnels under the city of Odessa.

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