Ernst-Haeckel-Haus

The house was built as a residence for biologist [[Ernst Haeckel]] in 1882–1883, in an [[Italianate architecture|Italianate style]].<ref name=historyhouse>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date= |title=Villa Medusa, History of the Research Institution |url=https://www.wissenschaftsgeschichte.uni-jena.de/en/2563/house-villa-medusa |website= |location= |publisher=Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Jena |access-date=19 June 2025 }}</ref> Haeckel spent much of his career as a marine biologist, and published richly illustrated books presenting marine life forms in an artistic way, notably in ''[[Kunstformen der Natur]]''. The interior of his own house was also decorated with lamps and painted ceiling ornaments directly inspired by the forms of jellyfish; some of the decorations have survived.{{sfn|Mann|1990|p=9}}{{sfn|Wulf|2015|p=369}} The decorations also gave the villa its name (jellyfish being the medusa-phase of certain gelatinous members of the [[subphylum]] [[Medusozoa]]). Haeckel's own drawing of a jellyfish found in the waters of [[Sri Lanka]] served as a ceiling decoration in the dining room.{{sfn|Wulf|2015|p=369}}

The house was built as a residence for biologist [[Ernst Haeckel]] in 1882–1883, in an [[Italianate architecture|Italianate style]].<ref name=historyhouse>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date= |title=Villa Medusa, History of the Research Institution |url=https://www.wissenschaftsgeschichte.uni-jena.de/en/2563/house-villa-medusa |website= |location= |publisher=Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Jena |access-date=19 June 2025 }}</ref> Haeckel spent much of his career as a marine biologist, and published richly illustrated books presenting marine life forms in an artistic way, notably in ''[[Kunstformen der Natur]]''. The interior of his own house was also decorated with lamps and painted ceiling ornaments directly inspired by the forms of jellyfish; some of the decorations have survived.{{sfn|Mann|1990|p=9}}{{sfn|Wulf|2015|p=369}} The decorations also gave the villa its name (jellyfish being the medusa-phase of certain gelatinous members of the [[subphylum]] [[Medusozoa]]). Haeckel's own drawing of a jellyfish found in the waters of [[Sri Lanka]] served as a ceiling decoration in the dining room.{{sfn|Wulf|2015|p=369}}

[[File:Jena Haeckel-Haus 03.jpg|thumb|right|Interior view of Haeckel's former study]]

[[File:Jena Haeckel-Haus 03.jpg|thumb|right|Interior view of Haeckel's former study]]

The house was built in the vicinity of the newly erected zoological institute. Haeckel and his family lived in the villa until his death in 1919.{{sfn|Krausse|Hossfeld|1999|p=203}} Haeckel also used the house as his workplace.<ref name=historyhouse>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date= |title=Villa Medusa, History of the Research Institution |url=https://www.wissenschaftsgeschichte.uni-jena.de/en/2563/house-villa-medusa |website= |location= |publisher=Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Jena |access-date=19 June 2025 }}</ref>

The house was built in the vicinity of the newly erected zoological institute. Haeckel and his family lived in the villa until his death in 1919.{{sfn|Krausse|Hossfeld|1999|p=203}} Haeckel also used the house as his workplace.<ref name=historyhouse/>

Haeckel, who died at the age of 85, had already during his lifetime regarded as a historically important biologist in Germany. The idea to preserve his own collections in a dedicated museum, as well as to preserve his archive for the future, was already formulated during his lifetime.{{sfn|Krausse|Hossfeld|1999|pp=203–205}} Following his death, the Ernst-Haeckel-Haus was founded in 1920 to serve as an archive and a museum.<ref name=historyhouse/> It is one of the oldest institutes in Germany dedicated to the history of science, second only to the {{ill|Karl-Sudhoff-Institut|de}} at [[Leipzig University]].{{sfn|Krausse|Hossfeld|1999|p=203}} Its first director was [[Heinrich Schmidt (philosopher)|Heinrich Schmidt]], who after the Nazi [[Adolf Hitler's rise to power#Seizure of control (1931–1933)|rise to power]] made a conscious effort to present Haeckel's legacy in a way which would appeal to [[Nazism|Nazi ideology]].<ref name=historyhouse/> Similarly, his successor as director, {{ill|Victor Julius Franz|de}}, continued to portray Haeckel in a light favourable to Nazism.<ref name=historyhouse/> Following [[World War II]], the villa and its associated institution became tied to the University of Jena. In 1965, a Chair for the History of Science was established at the institute and its scope has successively been broadened from its original focus on the life and achievements of Ernst Haeckel.<ref name=historyhouse/>

Haeckel, who died at the age of 85, had already during his lifetime regarded as a historically important biologist in Germany. The idea to preserve his own collections in a dedicated museum, as well as to preserve his archive for the future, was already formulated during his lifetime.{{sfn|Krausse|Hossfeld|1999|pp=203–205}} Following his death, the Ernst-Haeckel-Haus was founded in 1920 to serve as an archive and a museum.<ref name=historyhouse/> It is one of the oldest institutes in Germany dedicated to the history of science, second only to the {{ill|Karl-Sudhoff-Institut|de}} at [[Leipzig University]].{{sfn|Krausse|Hossfeld|1999|p=203}} Its first director was [[Heinrich Schmidt (philosopher)|Heinrich Schmidt]], who after the Nazi [[Adolf Hitler's rise to power#Seizure of control (1931–1933)|rise to power]] made a conscious effort to present Haeckel's legacy in a way which would appeal to [[Nazism|Nazi ideology]].<ref name=historyhouse/> Similarly, his successor as director, {{ill|Victor Julius Franz|de}}, continued to portray Haeckel in a light favourable to Nazism.<ref name=historyhouse/> Following [[World War II]], the villa and its associated institution became tied to the University of Jena. In 1965, a Chair for the History of Science was established at the institute and its scope has successively been broadened from its original focus on the life and achievements of Ernst Haeckel.<ref name=historyhouse/>

==Current use==

==Current use==

Today, the villa houses the Chair for the History and Philosophy of Science of the University of Jena, as well as the archives of Haeckel and a museum. It is open to the public through guided tours.<ref name=historyhouse/> The archive of Haeckel, preserved in the villa, contain around 38,000 letters as well as other documents related to Haeckel, and a research library.<ref name=archivehouse>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date= |title=Villa Medusa, History of the Research Institution |url=https://www.wissenschaftsgeschichte.uni-jena.de/en/2541/archive |website= |location= |publisher=Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Jena |access-date=19 June 2025 }}</ref>

Today, the villa houses the Chair for the History and Philosophy of Science of the University of Jena, as well as the archives of Haeckel and a museum. It is open to the public through guided tours.<ref name=historyhouse/> The archive of Haeckel, preserved in the villa, contain around 38,000 letters as well as other documents related to Haeckel, and a research library.<ref name=archivehouse>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date= |title=Villa Medusa, History of the Research Institution |url=https://www.wissenschaftsgeschichte.uni-jena.de/en/2541/archive |website= |location= |publisher=Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Jena |access-date=19 June 2025 |archive-date=17 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250217125304/https://www.wissenschaftsgeschichte.uni-jena.de/en/2541/archive |url-status=live }}</ref>

==References==

==References==