Outside the remote Russian village of Dargavs lies a medieval necropolis, or as it is called the "City of the Dead". In this ancient cemetery are still today the "remains" of at least 10,000 people, many of whom have been lying for centuries, wearing their clothes, but also next to their belongings.
According to popular beliefs, whoever dared to visit the place met with a terrible death, while many mysteries seem to surround the history of the "City of the Dead", which historians are gradually revealing.
Since the time of the 16th century, the remote area of southern Russia has been a burial ground for the dead. Until today the roots of its origin have not been ascertained although there are various theories.
According to a theory of the Indo-Iranian tradition, the city was built by Sarman immigrants, who, coming to Russia and wanting to honor their dead, buried them above ground, thus showing respect for the "foreign" land.
Today, the site includes 99 medieval crypts each containing over 100 bodies. Some are so well preserved that the flesh is still attached to their bones.
The history of the "City of the Dead" still hides a mystery. It is said that a series of plague epidemics ravaged the region in the 17th and 18th centuries and forced the inhabitants to self-quarantine themselves, until they were tortured to death.
Some of the bodies are buried in wooden coffins, reminiscent of boats, while one corpse was found lying with an oar next to it. However, since there were no rivers in the area, some historians believe that the ancients who lived in the area believed that for "Paradise", they had to cross a river.
Many visitors travel every year to admire the cemetery and its medieval architecture. But as the historian Luidmila Gaboeva points out, "People who visit the City of the Dead are looking for something deeper. Looking in awe at the beauty of this place, they try to achieve a state of peace in the thought of eternal death."