Clemens Perkeo (1702–1735) was a famous court jester and cellar keeper (Butler / Cellar Master) who lived in the Heidelberg Palace in the 18th century. Perkeo, who had dwarfism, became one of Heidelberg’s most renowned legendary figures due to his alcohol consumption capacity and humorous personality.
His Life and Prominent Features
- Italian Origin: He was originally from the Tyrol region on the Austrian/Italian border. He was brought to Heidelberg by Prince Karl Philipp.
- Origin of the Nickname “Perkeo“: He received this name because whenever he was asked if he could drink another glass of wine, he would reply in Italian, “Perché no?” (Why not?).
- Immense Wine Capacity: According to legend, he consumed liters (some accounts say 20-30 liters) of wine daily, avoiding water.
- Guardian of the Great Barrel: He was made the guardian of the Heidelberg Tun (Großes Fass), one of the world’s largest wine barrels, with a capacity of approximately 220,000 liters.
Legendary Death
According to the story told among the people, Perkeo drank almost no water throughout his life. When he fell ill in old age, his doctor advised him to drink a glass of water instead of wine; Perkeo lost his life the day after drinking water for the first time in his life.
Today, his memory is kept alive in the carnivals and city symbols held annually in Heidelberg, and his statue stands next to the giant barrel in Heidelberg Palace.
So why did he die after drinking water?
In the folk tale, Perkeo’s death upon drinking water is not based on a scientific or medical reason, but entirely on a humorous and ironic narrative. According to the legend:
Perkeo, who spent his entire life only drinking wine and whose body was accustomed to it, fell ill in old age, and on his doctor’s advice, drank a glass of water for the first time in his life.
The water, a “foreign” substance entering his system for the first time instead of wine, proved too much for his body, and Perkeo died the next day.
Medical and Historical Reality
In reality, it is not medically possible for a person to live only on wine and die the moment they drink water. The possible truths behind this story are:
1. Epidemics and Hygiene: In 18th-century Europe, river and well waters were full of bacteria and microbes. Wine, thanks to fermentation and its alcohol content, was much more hygenic than water. It is historically probable that the water Perkeo drank was contaminated (microbe-ridden) and led to an infection like typhus/typhoid.
2. Severe Alcohol Dependence (Delirium Tremens): Abruptly stopping alcohol consumption can be life-threatening for a chronic and heavy alcoholic. If the doctor mentioned water and he completely stopped wine, he might have died from a withdrawal crisis (delirium tremens).
3. Folk Tale Irony: The people of Heidelberg exaggerated the story in this way to immortalize this figure famous for his wine and to emphasize the sanctity/power of wine, turning it into an urban legend.
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