7

Cherry picking

When the Roman general and bon vivant Lucullus returned from the Black Sea port of Kerasus to Rome after his victory, the golden statue of king Mithridates was not his only present to the Roman emperor. It is said that during his triumphal procession through Rome he also presented the emperor with a fruit hitherto unknown in Europe – a small cherry tree.
The name of the fruit in many European languages is derived from the name of the port city, Kerasus; already during antiquity cherries were much sought-after delicacies gracing the table of rulers and the well-to-do. It also was the favourite fruit of Frederick the Great. Beginning in 1747 he had altogether five “Kirsch-Quartiere” (cherry quarters) planted in the park of Sanssouci. Today numerous historical breeds of cherry are growing in the cherry garden in front of the “Neue Kammern” (New Rooms).