Kerasous

Kerasous — Kerasous (Pontus), Pleiades 857185

KERASOUS Pontus, Turkey.

A tributary colony of Sinope, on the S coast of the Black Sea (Pontos Euxeinos), in Colchian territory; visited by Xenophon and the Ten Thousand in 400 B.C. (Anab. 5.3.2). From here Lucullus took the cherry (κερασός) to Rome. The city had ceased to exist by the early 2d c. A.D., and its name was transferred to Pharnakeia.

The site lies on the W side of Yeros Burnu (Hieron Oros), presumably at the mouth of the Kireşon Deresi (Kerasous fl.), 3 km NE of Vakfikebir. No remains are known.

D. R. WILSON