Pomona (mythology)

For other uses, see Pomona (mythology) (disambiguation).

Pomona, by Nicolas Fouché, c. 1700

Pomona (Latin: Pōmōna) was a goddess of fruitful abundance in ancient Roman religion and myth. Her name comes from the Latin word pomum, "fruit," specifically orchard fruit. ("Pomme" is the French word for "apple".) She was said to be a wood nymph and a part of the Numia, guardian spirits who watch over people, places, or homes. She scorned the love of the woodland gods Silvanus and Picus, but married Vertumnus after he tricked her, disguised as an old woman. She and Vertumnus shared a festival held on August 13. Her high priest was called the flamen Pomonalis. The pruning knife was her attribute. There is a grove that is sacred to her called the Pomonal, located not far from Ostia, the ancient port of Rome.

Pomona was the goddess of fruit trees, garden, and orchards. Unlike many other Roman goddesses and gods, she does not have a Greek counterpart. She watches over and protects fruit trees and cares for their cultivation. She was not actually associated with the harvest of fruits itself, but with the flourishing of the fruit trees. The pruning knife was her sacred tool. In artistic depictions she is generally shown with a platter of fruit or a cornucopia. A statue of Pomona is in the fountain in the little park before the Plaza Hotel in New York City.

In popular culture

Pomona Sprout is head of Hufflepuff House and professor of herbology in the Harry Potter book series. Also, the Halloween tradition of bobbing for apples is considered to have its roots in the 1st century's Pomonalis Festival in her honor

See also

• Pomona (disambiguation) A listing of cities and institutions named after Pomona

• The ballet Pomona, with music by Constant Lambert, choreography by Frederick Ashton and scenery and costumes by Vanessa Bell, first performed by the Vic-Wells Ballet at the Sadler's Wells Theatre on 17 January 1933.

External links

Media related to Vertumnus and Pomona at Wikimedia Commons

• Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Pomona" . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.