Pomōna

, a nymph at Rome, who was supposed to preside over gardens and to be the godde of all sorts of fruit trees. She had a temple at Rome, and a regular priest called Flamen Pomonalis , who offered sacrifices to her divinity, for the preservation of fruit. She was generally represented as sitting on a basket full of flowers and fruit, and holding a bough in one hand and apples in the other. Pomona was particularly delighted with the cultivation of the earth; she disdained the toils of the field, and the fatigues of hunting. Many of the gods of the country endeavoured to gain her affection, but she received their addre es with coldne . Vertumnus was the only one who, by a uming different shapes, and introducing himself into her company, under the form of an old woman, prevailed upon her to break her vow of celibacy and to marry him. This deity was unknown among the Greeks. Ovid , Metamorphoses , bk. 14 , li. 628 , . — Festus , Lexicon of Festus .