The building was erected as a theatre by architect Wilhelm Vernukken in 1603/1606. The commissioner was Landgraf Moritz, who named the Ottoneum after his son Otto. Today, a natural history museum is housed here. [German]
Museum of Natural History
Well-known collection pieces are a Xylotheque and the Ratzenberger Herbarium. Another attraction is the Goethe Elephant Skeleton.
The Goethe Elephant Skeleton
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe used the skull of this elephant for his anatomical research on the incisive bone. Several years later, a showcase in the Romantikerhaus in Jena told me more about Goethe’s activities in this matter.
Sources / More info
- Ottoneum Natural History Museum (Wikipedia)
- Ottoneum Natural History Museum (Website)
- Xylotheque (Wikipedia)