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. Röom. vol. ii. p. 133, &c.) - A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology, William Smith, Ed.