. The official Odesa Catacombs website, however, calls the story a hoax. [5], Only one small portion of the catacombs is open to the public, within the "Museum of Partisan Glory" in Nerubayskoye, north of Odesa. Thegoal of Ancient Origins is to highlight recent archaeological discoveries, peer-reviewed academic research and evidence, as well as offering alternative viewpoints and explanations of science, archaeology, mythology, religion and history around the globe. As I said earlier, a lot of people lost and even dead under Odessa. 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. By that point the body was mostly a skeleton, so there were not many more details. As fun as it is to explore catacombs, some people prefer to stay above ground and explore. They tried to ignore the malnutrition and malaria which afflicted many of them. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month. Even with all that, humans are resilient, and can survive several days without food and water. Eager to escape, she ran through the tunnels, not knowing she was heading the wrong direction. 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. But in their foggy states, they absentmindedlyor maliciouslyleft Masha in the catacombs. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. An entrance to the Odessa catacombs is located at 4632'33.8N 3038'06.0E. 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. 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. A subreddit dedicated to the unresolved mysteries of the world. On January 1st, 2005, some Odessa teens decided to spend New Years night partying in the catacombs. Excavation of the Maltese Catacombs of St. Agatha Revealed Some of the Finest 12th and 15th century Frescos in Europe! 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. Beneath the city of Odessa, and also its outskirts, lie a labyrinth-like network of tunnels, known as the Odessa Catacombs. 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. In 1961, a "Search" ("Poisk") club formed in an effort to explore and document the catacombs. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Over the years there have been numerous reports of people venturing into the catacombs, getting lost, and eventually dying of dehydration never to be seen again. 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. 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. The only Ukrainians who have any official business down there are workers in active mines who still dig for limestone. What started as an ancient Greek colony, in time turned into a metropolis a crucial seaport and an economic hub. One of their group, a teenage girl named Masha, got separated from the rest. Katakomby. They were used as a source of cheap construction materials. vegan options at biltmore estate. No one is exactly sure how she died, but it could have been dehydration or hypothermia. These men and women remained hidden, living in the catacombs. In 2005, after a couple of drinks, a group of enthusiastic Odessa teens decided to continue their party down in the catacombs. They would throw in poison gas canisters, hoping to smoke them out and finish them off. In the photo, Masha is unidentifiable beyond simply being a human. Doesn't matter to me; the thought of being lost down there in the dark is maddening. But one thing that this city of one million citizens hides, and a fact that many who visit it are totally unaware of, are the sprawling catacombs beneath its streets. Every weekday we compile our most wondrous stories and deliver them straight to you. She had no food and no water, and the catacombs were freezing cold and dry. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. You'd think they'd have them boarded or locked up pretty tight to avoid homeless people getting lost down there. After the communists came to power, this man hid both himself and the golden Titanic in the catacombs below, never to be discovered. Ancient Origins 2013 - 2023Disclaimer- Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy -Submissions - We Give Back - Contact us. 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. An entrance into the catacombs. masha who died in the catacombs. However, when the body was removed, it was in terrible condition, with no good identifying factors. But even with a light and a map of the catacombs, it would have been hard for someone ill-prepared to make it out, because the maps that exist are a maddening, brain-like scrawl. 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. However, that hasn't stopped many people from making the same trip Masha apparently made. In the decades after the war, the tunnels became a safe haven for smugglers and criminals and they made more tunnels. Many of Ukraines cities have rich and lengthy histories behind them all filled with tales and secrets. (Author provided). Just one look at the maps will show you exactly why the Odessa catacombs were never fully explored the sheer size prevents it. All of these items are housed in a section of the tunnels which were used by the partisans. 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. The people of Odessa and surrounding areas know better than to explore the catacombs. As the result of contemporary mining, the catacombs continue to expand. There you will find the legend of Masha. "Besides the original photographer," a post says, "there isn't one person, civilian or law enforcement, that can confirm the story. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. After 73 days of vicious fighting, the town fell and was annexed to become a part of newly formed Transnistria Governorate under Romanian administration. Unfortunately, this area was unmapped, and quite dangerous. 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.. Follow us on social media to add even more wonder to your day. The catacombs also contain natural caves and span over 1,500 miles. 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. Odesa catacombs - Wikipedia 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. Masha had died, still trying to escape. [7], A 2015 investigation by Vice writer Mike Pearl similarly found no evidence that Masha had existed. 2016. Descending into the darkness below the world, you are thrust headfirst into a deeply disturbing realm. Irish Urban Explorations. A large portion of these tunnels due to the sheer extent and the number of corridors remains completely unexplored. However, it's not te only creepy story - in 2012 group of students went below and one was lost. ( Volodymyr Khodaryev /Adobe Stock). Some say this was even done maliciously. What are you a professional corpsologist? When I was a teenager I was a tour guide at a local cave and at the end of the day someone had to walk to the back of the cave (45 minutes one way!) The ancient Greeks were no different. The remaining catacombs (3-5%) are either natural cavities or were excavated for other purposes such as sewerage. No way that picture was faked. She spent three days wandering in the freezing cold and pitch black before she died of dehydration. Odessas catacombs quickly became the preferred hideout of rebels, criminals, and eccentrics. 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. Everyone was having a good time, drinking and having fun. Maybe this photo will shock you. 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. We'll make more! [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. They are so incredibly extensive that someone who dies within can simply never be found. One story stands out among the rest, and that is the story of Masha. Creepy stories about the Odessa catacombs range fromdead bodies found in catacombs, topeople who have gotten lost in catacombs and were never seen again. 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. Relics of the past in the Odessa catacombs, Ukraine. These groups have even rescued a number of children who have wandered into the catacombs and gotten lost. Today there is an entire Ukrainian subculture of catacomb explorers with dozens of semiprofessional groups, often quite competitive, exploring the catacombs. But Masha had not gone home. Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders. He quarreled with the teen, then led her into the catacombs where they could continue their argument. 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. But we do know that the confirmed tales of the catacombs, as well as its history, are still filled with gloom, death, and horror. dinnington high school alumni. It was wearing jeans and modern shoes, and did appear to be the result of a fairly recent death. She lies on her left side, legs curled like she's sleeping, while the upper half of her decomposing body has lost its form. Old Catacombs Odessa, Ukraine (XVIII-XX century) . ", Personally, I find this story absolutely terrifying; the thought of stumbling around lost in 2,500KM of tunnels with no lights and eventually dying alone is a kind of terror I hope to never experience. 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. I tend to never believe Vice.. 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. I know you said he was never identified, but was there an investigation you can share with us? This led to a lot of attempt at secrecy by the officials. Belief in malevolent spirits inhabiting the human body has persisted across cultures for millennia. 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. . Even if they managed to find an entrance that was accessible, they were not to venture inside. Maybe her path forked a few times, and she lost track of the pattern. But catacombs can be more than religious passageways or burial grounds. Amid yellow limestone walls and floors, young explorers found a body that was partially mummified by the cold dry air. On Wikipedia, catacombs are described as man-made subterranean passageways for religious practice. Maybe her path forked a few times, and she lost track of the pattern. In WWII, Soviet partisans hid in the Odessa Catacombs, which stretch Over the decades that follow, after the gradual abandonment of the mining operations, the Odessa catacombs would become somewhat obscure and forgotten. A 2009 forum post on the Urban Explorer's Resource (UER) site, by someone named Eugene Lata, put the tale into English, detailing everything from Masha's backstory to the grim discovery the group had made. 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.
When Is Orthodox Lent 2022,
Physical Therapy Lawsuit Cases,
Who Is The Little Boy Dancing In Bridesmaids,
What Does The Name Shannon Mean For A Girl,
Accident On Hwy 31 Kilgore, Tx,
Articles M
Comments are closed.