Instead, he claims they were looking for the body of Janis Stendzenieks, the son of a local newspaper magnate. Shiver. Masha had no food, no drink, and no phone service. Throughout the history of civilization, the concept of the apocalypse has been ever present, in one way or another. 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. 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. The remains of more than 1,000 people lie deep under the modern town of Rabat. 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. 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. Girl Lost in Odessa Catacombs 694,277 views Jun 2, 2016 15K Dislike Share ScareTheater 963K subscribers Previous Video: http://bit.ly/1ZhkLEh In 2005, the body of a girl named Masha was found. 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. Perhaps they will never be. In the morning, they braved the morning cold to get back to hearth and home. Inside, they saw a flight of stairs leading down into the catacombs. Her partially mummified body was discovered two years later by amateur explorers. In the 19th century, most houses in Odesa were built of limestone that was mined nearby. The only Ukrainians who have any official business down there are workers in active mines who still dig for limestone. The kids began to drink, and soon enough Mashabecame drunk. This was a mistake. He quarreled with the teen, then led her into the catacombs where they could continue their argument. The rest of the process wasn't exactly CSI: Odessa. It was brought to a police medical examiner's office, and everyone found that, shockingly, the DNA didn't match the missing boy. 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 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. Unfortunately, this area was unmapped, and quite dangerous. [7], A 2015 investigation by Vice writer Mike Pearl similarly found no evidence that Masha had existed. The biggest and most serious efforts were made by a club specifically created for the purpose Poisk ( ). All rights reserved. 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. "Besides the original photographer," a post says, "there isn't one person, civilian or law enforcement, that can confirm the story. Lata says he was there when that photo was taken, but he can't retrace the photo to its origin. In the photo, Masha is unidentifiable beyond simply being a human. [6] Other caves attract extreme tourists, who explore the tunnels despite the dangers involved. However, that hasn't stopped many people from making the same trip Masha apparently made. 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. 2023 Atlas Obscura. Over the decades that follow, after the gradual abandonment of the mining operations, the Odessa catacombs would become somewhat obscure and forgotten. ", 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. [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. [1] No purchase necessary. Relics of the past in the Odessa catacombs, Ukraine. They go on multi-day underground treks, known as expeditions, to document and map the system. "I wrapped it in a bedsheet, and dragged it back," he told VICE through a translator. But at some point in the night Masha decided to explore the catacombs. But one Ukrainian town stands out Odessa. 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. During the Middle Ages, exorcisms were commonplace to rid individuals of supposed demonic possession. 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 earliest of the graffiti dates to the 18th century. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. ( eliosdnepr /Adobe Stock). Several attempts at thorough exploration were made over the years. Odessas catacombs quickly became the preferred hideout of rebels, criminals, and eccentrics. 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. What are you a professional corpsologist? No doubt, many bodies remain hidden in the mines. One of their group, a teenage girl named Masha, got separated from the rest. vrbo trip board comments; sysco teamsters contract; dr john gemma net worth. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. Murderer never found, the body ever identified. Everywhere, hidden in the niches and the stone nooks, lie scribbled and faded poems, warnings and pleas. The Moora Mystery: What Happened When a Girl Stepped into the Moor 2,500 Years Ago? Is it easy to get access to the catacombs? 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. Submissions should outline a mystery and provide a link to a more detailed review of the case such as a Wiki article or news report. Winner will be selected at random on 04/01/2023. He claimed that his best friend had led the expedition, and that he had been there when the infamous photo was taken. She quickly became separated from her party, and unable to find her way back. [citation needed], During World War II the catacombs served as a hiding place for Soviet partisans, in particular the squad of Vladimir Molodtsov. [Online] Available at: https://thinkofthetriangle.wordpress.com/2016/09/25/adventures-in-ukraine-odessa-catacombs/, McKendry, I. D. 2017. But despite being passed around the internet as fact, there is little documentation to support the legend of Masha. In WWII, Soviet partisans hid in the Odessa Catacombs, which stretch for thousands of miles below the city. But according to the official Odessa Catacombs website, the whole story of Masha is a lie. Offer available only in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico). Every story is true, and each one is a real place you can visit. But he [Pugovkin] claims that when Armand Stendzenieks ordered a DNA test, it wasn't a match. 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. A wrong turn can mean death in these tunnels and every step might reveal some unseen horror. Maybe her path forked a few times, and she lost track of the pattern. ( CC BY SA 4.0 ). 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. The catacombs are on three levels, and reach a depth of 200ft (60 meters) below sea level. What you may not know, is that the largest catacomb system in the world is the Odessa Catacombs in Ukraine. 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If she was lucky, she died quickly from the cold . [Online] Available at: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/odessa-catacombs, Unknown. After the Soviets were forced out of the city, dozens of soviet-organized Ukrainian rebel groups remained, hiding below the city. They have rescued a number of children who have wandered into the catacombs. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. And the size is further reflected in the fact that the entirety of the catacombs has never been explored. 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! What started as an ancient Greek colony, in time turned into a metropolis a crucial seaport and an economic hub. Everyone was having a good time, drinking and having fun. So it's a photo of a body that willit seemsnever be positively identified, and it immortalizes the last moment of someone's life. The ancient Greeks were no different. Thats when they learned that she had never returned home her parents had assumed she was with them. She was headed . 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. However, a 2015 Vice Article alleges that Masha's story may be some kind of hoax, claiming that, according to the official Odessa Catacombs website, the whole story of Masha is a lie. 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. Before long, the other teens gave up looking for her and left, figuring she'd already gotten out, or would get out on her own soon. Bedroom of a Partisan living in the tunnels. Doesn't matter to me; the thought of being lost down there in the dark is maddening. Find Out. If the area near School 56 had no groundwateror clandestine wine or mushroomsthere would have been nothing for her to eat or drink. One of them decided to give it a try, they turned the handle and the door swung open. Her story has that odd mix of too much detail and yet nothing verifiable that just screams urban legend. Sad mother monument, made in stone in the Odessa catacombs . Winner will be selected at random on 04/01/2023. But he claims that when Armand Stendzenieks ordered a DNA test, it wasn't a match. A vast country that prides itself on a history rich with heroes and artists. The post featured a graphic photo of what appeared to be a decaying corpse in the catacombs, which Lata claimed was Masha's body. It can be really dangerous," he wrote, adding "here are some new pictures of our catacombs. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 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. [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. Believing this to be the best explanation for her absence, the group agreed and they left. Some time later, when the group was ready to call it a night and head home, they noticed Masha was missing. During WWII Ukrainian rebel groups hid within the labyrinthine catacombs and today there is an entire Ukrainian subculture of catacomb explorers with dozens of semiprofessional groups, often quite competitive, exploring the catacombs. 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. In the end, she might have crawled. 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. 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. Catacombs below Odessa, Ukraine. 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. Everyone wanted to see where poor Masha had met her end. 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). Featured in one of the most iconic scenes in cinema history. Odessa, just outside of Ukraine's capital, Kiev, is home to one of the largest catacombs in the entire world. Hundreds of partisans, or rebels, took to hiding in the catacombs. They present thousands of crisscrossed tunnels, intersections, corridors, galleries, and caverns, all entwined and endlessly sprawling like some chaotic maze of ant tunnels. A subreddit dedicated to the unresolved mysteries of the world. In fact, these labyrinthine tunnels are so enormous, that they easily dwarf both the catacombs of Rome and those of Paris . is Halloween. But one such find could not remain a secret. It was wearing jeans and modern shoes, and did appear to be the result of a fairly recent death. Places such as Aokigahara Forest. Fine Art? What followed for Masha was a three day trek from hell. Post author: Post published: 22/06/2022 Post category: brenda payne hendersonville, tn Post comments: criminal fraternities 18th century criminal fraternities 18th century Fine Art? See. She was headed into the Odessa catacombs, the 2,500 kilometers of dark rocky tunnels which run underneath the city. In the photo, Masha is unidentifiable beyond simply being a human. [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. 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.. Ancient Origins 2013 - 2023Disclaimer- Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy -Submissions - We Give Back - Contact us. The sheer size of the catacombs meant a refuge for all walks of life that sought to hide. The Bohemian Blog. 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. 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. [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. It took a full two years before the police were able to locate her body and retrieve it from the catacombs. masha who died in the catacombs; employee experience software market size; June 21, 2022; by . One story stands out among the rest, and that is the story of Masha. Maybe this photo will shock you. She was headed into the Odessa catacombs, the 2,500 kilometers of dark rocky tunnels which run underneath the city. Find Out, Dizzying Inca Rope Bridges Were Grass-Made Marvels of Engineering, For Sale In Britain: A Small Ancient Man With A Colossal Penis. 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". 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 next day, Mashas friends went to her house to see how she was doing. The complete length of the Odessa catacombs comes up to around astonishing 2500 km (1553.43 miles)! 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. It`s a dead body of the 19-years old girl, who has lost the right way in the maze. Shortly after this the mapping of a huge unexplored area of the catacombs known as K-29 was begun. Apr 11, 2022 - The Odessa Catacombs are the largest catacomb system in the world. She lies on her left side, legs curled like she's sleeping, while the upper half of her decomposing body has lost its form. 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. Authorities have also suggested that the photo is a prank, and that the corpse is a fake. In 1961, a "Search" ("Poisk") club formed in an effort to explore and document the catacombs. 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. Odessa catacombs, Ukraine <Reply # 19 on 6/16/2009 12:10 PM > Posted by ActionSatisfaction Esq. 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. Although the tunnels are mostly limestone mines used to build the city, they have a storied history which includes Nazi executions during WWII and legends of a small replica of the Titanic made of solid gold among other things. 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. They decided to do this inthe Odessa catacombs, where they could have some privacy, drink, and have fun with a little added creep factor. Many of Ukraines cities have rich and lengthy histories behind them all filled with tales and secrets. There you will find the skeletal remains of more than 6 million people. In World War II, Odessa was besieged in August of 1941 by the Axis forces. Should someone get lost in the catacombs (as happens every couple of years), these groups put aside their differences and mount large search expeditions. I remember seeing that on tv as a teenager and it still freaks me out today to even think about it. [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). 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. With over 1,500 miles of subterranean tunnels, Odessa's catacombs even beat out the well-known Paris Catacombs in terms of length. Also, he wrote, "five explorers [got] lost or died during this year. Especially when you consider the fact that the distance between Odessa and Paris is roughly 2138 km (1328.49 miles). 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. Archaeologists have been able to take a closer look at one of the United Kingdoms most famous shipwrecks. Here they lived slept, cooked, organized raids, and fought. A massive search effort was launched but they werent able to find her among the 2,500 kilometers of often unmapped tunnels. These groups have even rescued a number of children who have wandered into the catacombs and gotten lost. But we do know that the confirmed tales of the catacombs, as well as its history, are still filled with gloom, death, and horror. Parents in the area warned their children to stay away. They go on multi-day underground treks, known as expeditions, to document and map the system. [Online] Available at: https://greentourua.com/the-lost-world-of-odessa-catacombs/, Various. This was only aimed at the portions beneath the town center though, and the rest of the catacombs continued to develop some time after. Her parents called the authorities who went to the site and began to search. 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. Part of the catacomb network, Odessa, Ukraine . They were used as a source of cheap construction materials. It doesn't seem too unbelievable to me that a group of kids exploring where they're not supposed be might not report a long -dead body. Despite very extensive searches neither his body, nor any clues about his fate were found. The Museum of Partisan Glory is located in a part of the catacombs north of Odessa, and it is the only underground museum in Ukraine. The largest catacomb system in the world. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The photo proves that Hell is a real place, and it's about nine stories beneath Odessa. 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. 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. 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. View all photos. It is one of the world's largest urban labyrinths, running up to 2,500 kilometres (1,600mi). I mean it's Vice. In September 1995, in honor of the 200th anniversary of Odessa, the longest underground journey in the catacombs was recorded. 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. Version of this photo sourced directly from Eugene Lata. 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. 13th Floor. 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However, it's not te only creepy story - in 2012 group of students went below and one was lost. 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 site uses Akismet to reduce spam. "The diggers determined it was a Satanist who got lost.". A partial map of the Odessa catacombs. [Online] Available at: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/mind-boggling-catacomb-maps, Thuras, D. Odessa Catacombs. Descending into the darkness below the world, you are thrust headfirst into a deeply disturbing realm. Atlas Obscura. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. In his last post, he wrote that the place was pretty much charted, and claimed that there's not much left to explore. The whole story of Masha might actually just be an urban legend. The official Odesa Catacombs website, however, calls the story a hoax. The 2005 New Years eve party was great. 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. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day.

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