Masha went out with a large group of friends to celebrate and probably get drunk. But the most important inhabitants of these labyrinths were the Soviet partisans. 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. Should someone get lost in the catacombs (as happens every couple of years), these groups put aside their differences and mount large search expeditions. Try not to get lost. This was only aimed at the portions beneath the town center though, and the rest of the catacombs continued to develop some time after. [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. masha odessa catacombs photolet us break bread together meaning peaky blinderslet us break bread together meaning peaky blinders The whole story of Masha might actually just be an urban legend. It was wearing jeans and modern shoes, and did appear to be the result of a fairly recent death. 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. They cooked, played games, and listened to the radio With the Nazis above ground, they looked for any opportunity relay intelligence, or strike their enemy. The final resting place for the remains of 143 Habsburg royalty. Over the decades that follow, after the gradual abandonment of the mining operations, the Odessa catacombs would become somewhat obscure and forgotten. 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. 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. 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. In World War II, Odessa was besieged in August of 1941 by the Axis forces. [Online] Available at: https://irishurbanexplorations.wordpress.com/2014/05/07/odessa-catacombs-day-1-odessa-ukraine/, Author Unknown. 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." There's no way any one person could ever witness the true scale of the Odessa Catacombs; explore all 2,500km of tunnel. One of these stories inevitably brings us to Masha, a student who should have known better than to venture inside the tunnels. According to the investigation of the incident, the man was with a group of friends, and had been drinking with the young girl. It was cold, near freezing, and foggy on New Years Eve 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. It is in these catacombs that we get the legend of Masha, who ventured inside and got lost. Irish Urban Explorations. The Lost World of Odessa Catacombs. Winner will be selected at random on 04/01/2023. Featured in one of the most iconic scenes in cinema history. After the communists came to power, this man hid both himself and the golden Titanic in the catacombs below, never to be discovered. 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. If she'd wandered into isolation, maybe to find a secluded spot to relieve herself, it's easy to imagine she was beyond screaming distance. [citation needed] Perhaps the most famous story dates back to claims made in 2009 by Ukrainian catacombs explorer Eugene Lata. Maybe her path forked a few times, and she lost track of the pattern. These men and women remained hidden, living in the catacombs. But according to the official Odessa Catacombs website, the whole story of Masha is a lie. Ancient Origins 2013 - 2023Disclaimer- Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy -Submissions - We Give Back - Contact us. There you will find the skeletal remains of more than 6 million people. She couldn't have lasted more than a week. 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. In his last post, he wrote that the place was pretty much charted, and claimed that there's not much left to explore. It`s a dead body of the 19-years old girl, who has lost the right way in the maze. According to Pugovkin, someone else had vanished in 2004: Janis Stendzenieks, the son of a newspaper magnate named Armand Stendzenieks. 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. Her body was found only after 2 years. The labyrinths are also unique by being largely unexplored and un-commercialized. Atlas Obscura. She was headed . I mean it's Vice. While you may have never heard of the Odessa catacombs, they are filled with legends and dark tales that you'll never forget. They're not the safest places to be either. All rights reserved. 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Authorities have also suggested that the photo is a prank, and that the corpse is a fake. Fine Art? A vast country that prides itself on a history rich with heroes and artists. In the case of the Odessa Catacombs, they are a labyrinth-like network of tunnels under the city of Odessa. Everyone was having a good time, drinking and having fun. A photo showing Marsha's deceased body, mummified, found years after her gruesome death. 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. 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? Shiver. [citation needed], During World War II the catacombs served as a hiding place for Soviet partisans, in particular the squad of Vladimir Molodtsov. A large portion of these tunnels due to the sheer extent and the number of corridors remains completely unexplored. [1] Parts were used as air-raid shelters during World War II. Several attempts at thorough exploration were made over the years. 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. By signing up to the VICE newsletter you agree to receive electronic communications from VICE that may sometimes include advertisements or sponsored content. During the Middle Ages, exorcisms were commonplace to rid individuals of supposed demonic possession. Enjoy.". Offer subject to change without notice. Pinterest (To get a sense of how much tunnel system that really is, it is only 2138 kilometers from Odessa to Paris.). 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. She would have gotten delirious, convulsed, and slipped irreversibly into a coma around the third day, not that she would have noticed the days passing. Parents in the area warned their children to stay away. The post featured a graphic photo of what appeared to be a decaying corpse in the catacombs, which Lata claimed was Masha's body. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). There's an image that you may been seen that's been going around for several years. 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. 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. 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. Murderer never found, the body ever identified. When the group arrived, they found it easy enough, with two large metal doors. Some proof for the long existence of this myth are the countless graffiti ships that can be spotted in the tunnels. Odesskiy. Such bomb shelters supposed to be refuge for civilians in case of nuclear strike or gas attack. Hundreds of partisans, or rebels, took to hiding in the catacombs. She ventured farther down the tunnels and quickly got turned around. 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. The Odessa Catacombs underwent further construction through the vagrants' illegal widening and creation of even more tunnel systems. What's worse is that it's believed she walked away from the entrance, farther underground, so that the temperatures dropped even lower. A body was recovered, about five miles from the entrance Masha would have used. The group had to come clean. The mining operations would soon spiral almost out of control, causing some issues for the town itself, until they would be temporarily banned after 1917. As modern urban explorers tend to do, individuals from the group who found the body decided to share their exploits online. Norimitsu Odachi: Who Could Have Possibly Wielded This Enormous 15th Century Japanese Sword? Fake? Everyone wanted to see where poor Masha had met her end. Despite this, they were once used by the Soviets who took Nazi soldiers down to be executed. A nation whose foundations stand on centuries of struggle and fighting for independence. The Stone Mines, part of the Odessa Catacombs, were closed and sealed off in 1917. Worse, she didnt know where she was, or how to get out. 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. The catacombs are not easy to navigate, especially when you're drunk like Masha might have been that night. In the photo, Masha is unidentifiable beyond simply being a human. 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. [Online] Available at: https://greentourua.com/the-lost-world-of-odessa-catacombs/, Various. The official Odesa Catacombs website, however, calls the story a hoax. If she was lucky, she died quickly from the cold. He quarreled with the teen, then led her into the catacombs where they could continue their argument. - BACKSTORY - The story goes like thisMasha or Mashenka, depending on t. 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. 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. 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 group snapped a photo, in which three young boys pose with the body as if they have just identified it. In WWII, Soviet partisans hid in the Odessa Catacombs, which stretch for thousands of miles below the city. Many regions (such as the notorious 'K-29' network) remain largely unexplored to this day. As the result of contemporary mining, the catacombs continue to expand. For those interested in exploring the catacombs, with less risk, you can hire a professional to take you down. Replies analysing and speculating over the mystery and possible explanations are encouraged. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. Eager to escape, she ran through the tunnels, not knowing she was heading the wrong direction. Masha had no food, no drink, and no phone service. It is dedicated to the partisan effort of the World War II and it is filled with relics of the period, almost all of which were found within the catacombs over the years. Katakomby. Very much like the lyrics of the famous She may be ancient Egypts most famous face, but the quest to find the eternal resting place of Queen Nefertiti has never been hotter. They were even known to blow up German facilities. Masha had traveled several miles into the catacombs. The post featured a graphic photo of what appeared to be a decaying corpse in the catacombs, which Lata claimed was Masha's body. Murderer never found, the body ever identified. ", 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. "The diggers determined it was a Satanist who got lost.". Then he added that a young boy had just been lost in an accident, and his body was still missing. list of hair dyes that contain metallic salts; eglin afb housing floor plans. Proudly powered by WordPress Her parents called the authorities who went to the site and began to search. "During the time she was inside, her 'friends' didn't try to take her body out," Lata wrote, guessing that they were "frightened.". There is little to no record of a girl named Masha ever disappearing into the catacombs, and there are those that refute Lata'saccounts. It's not clear what the journalist wrote, but Lata claims the government got moving and removed the body less than 24 hours later. As fun as it is to explore catacombs, some people prefer to stay above ground and explore. Actually, the walls of the Odessa catacombs are inscribed with thousands of writings, ranging from names to slogans to caricatures and even poems. Masha always struck me as an urban legend. [4] In his work The Waves of The Black Sea, Valentin Kataev described the battle between Soviet partisans against Axis forces, underneath Odesa and its nearby suburb Usatove. Eventually the majority of the group managed to find their way back out but Masha never did. Lata says he was there when that photo was taken, but he can't retrace the photo to its origin. 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. 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. Detachment of Molodtsov near Odessa Catacombs. Is it easy to get access to the catacombs? The very old skeleton of a partisan or smuggler. The biggest and most serious efforts were made by a club specifically created for the purpose Poisk ( ). No one is exactly sure how she died, but it could have been dehydration or hypothermia. Inside, they saw a flight of stairs leading down into the catacombs. What followed for Masha was a three day trek from hell. I hope it's fake - but, unless that picture was fake, someone died the nightmarish way attributed to Masha. The body is real though, it belonged to a man 40 to 60 years, who was killed in the catacombs. The rumors said it was deep underground, but from what they had seen, the body appeared to be fresh. Unfortunately, what they often find inside is far more grim than that. Last month, a guy in his 20s was sentenced for reportedly murdering his teenage girlfriend in the catacombs with an ax. He had gotten lost, and there was a reward offered to anyone who could find the young man. Were theonlyPop Archaeology site combining scientific research with out-of-the-box perspectives. Even with all that, humans are resilient, and can survive several days without food and water. 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. 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 catacombs also contain natural caves and span over 1,500 miles. The remains of more than 1,000 people lie deep under the modern town of Rabat. Mauritius Square, Ukraine: What is this Giant Crab-like Earthworks? By that point the body was mostly a skeleton, so there were not many more details. Today we find ourselves wandering the largest catacomb system in the world. Just beware, even professionals can get lost. During the Cold War, they served as bomb shelters. After a while, the group was quite intoxicated, Masha included. See. I remember seeing that on tv as a teenager and it still freaks me out today to even think about it. They are so incredibly extensive that someone who dies within can simply never be found. "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." 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. Today, there are dozens of semi-professional catacomb explorer groups that venture into the Odessa catacombs. 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. But Masha had not gone home. Atlas Obscura. 2016. As it turns out, many people still venture into the darkness seeking adventure. The kids began to drink, and soon enough Mashabecame drunk. Built in the Soviet era, this cableway system still runs gondolas from Odessa down to Otrada Beach. I'm not sure I believe the photo is fake. Old Catacombs Odessa, Ukraine (XVIII-XX century) . No purchase necessary. 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. 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.. 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. There are even tales of Nazi executionsand cultists, not to mention a ghost story or two; however, the most famous of thecatacomb legends is probably that of agirl named Masha, who went into the maze of passagesand wasn't found until years later. This led to a lot of attempt at secrecy by the officials. The only Ukrainians who have any official business down there are workers in active mines who still dig for limestone. 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). She had no food and no water, and the catacombs were freezing cold and dry. In the decades after the war, the tunnels became a safe haven for smugglers and criminals and they made more tunnels. 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. Come for the severed heads, stay for the book bound in human skin. Hiding in the catacombs for as much as 13 months, literally below the noses and feet of the Nazis above, the rebels waited for a chance to strike or relay information.