Mythology & Beliefs: Pomona
In Greek and Roman Mythology, Pomona was the Roman goddess of fruits.
Pomona in Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology
the Roman divinity of the fruit of trees, hence called Pomorum
Patrona. Her name is evidently connected with Pomum. She is
represented by the poets as having been beloved by several of
the rustic divinities, such as Silvanus, Picus, Vertumnus, and
others (Ov. Met. 14.623, &c.; Propert. 4.2. 21, &c.; Serv. ad
Aen. 7.190). Her worship must originally have been of
considerable importance, as we learn from Varr (De L. L. 7.15)
that a special priest, under the name of flamen Pomonalis, was
appointed to attend to her service (comp. Plin. Nat. 23.1). It
is not impossible that Pomona may in reality be nothing but
the personification of one of the attributes of Ops. (Hartung,
Die Relig. d. R÷om. vol. ii. p. 133, &c.) - A Dictionary of
Greek and Roman biography and mythology, William Smith, Ed.
Pomona in Wikipedia
In Roman mythology, Pomona was the goddess of plenty. Her name
comes from the Latin word, pomum, which translates to "fruit."
She scorned the love of Silvanus and Picus but married
Vertumnus after he tricked her, disguised as an old woman.
Her high priest was called the flamen Pomonalis. The pruning
knife was her attribute. She is a uniquely Roman goddess,
never identitified with any Greek counterpart, and was
particularly associated with the blossoming of trees versus
In 19th century statues and building decorations she is
usually shown carrying either a large platter of fruit or a
cornucopia. A nude statue of Pomona is in the fountain in the
little park before the Plaza Hotel in New York City. For a
listing of cities named after her, see Pomona
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