Their story
Pomona was a goddess of fruit, with her own minor priest, the flamen Pomonalis, and a sacred grove near Ostia called the Pomonal. Ovid tells how she cared only for her orchards and shut out every suitor. The god Vertumnus visited her in many disguises, and finally as an old woman who told her a story of love refused. When he showed his true form, she accepted him.
Best times to give to them
- Apple harvest in autumn
- Blossom time in spring
- Kalends of each month
What they like being given
- Apples and other fruit
- Apple juice or cider
- Blossom
- Honey
How to honour them
- Offer the first fruit of a tree to her.
- Prune or care for a fruit tree with a short prayer.
- Share surplus fruit with neighbours.
How they can help you
- Gardening and orchards
- Patience in growth
- Abundance
Symbols
- pruning knife
- apple
- fruit basket
No festival date for Pomona survives.
Sources
- Ovid, Metamorphoses 14
- Varro, De Lingua Latina 7.45
- Festus, De Verborum Significatu
More Roman goddesses
- Juno Queen of heaven and protector of women
- Minerva Patron of craftworkers, teachers and healers
- Venus Mother of the Roman people and goddess of love
- Diana Lady of the woodland grove and the moon
- Vesta The living flame at the heart of home and Rome
- Ceres Mother of the grain and friend of the common people
- Luna The moon, shining through the night
- Libera Partner of Liber in the Aventine triad