Pomona, also known as Pompona, stands as the Roman goddess symbolizing abundance, with a focus on fruit-bearing trees, gardens, and orchards. Regarded as a minor deity, her symbol was the pruning knife. Some narratives even portray her as a wood nymph rather than a traditional goddess.
Historical Background
As a uniquely Roman entity, Pomona presided over fruit trees, gardens, and orchards with her festival celebrated alongside her partner Vertumnus on August 13. She belonged to the Numina, the divine spirits of Roman mythology that safeguarded individuals, homes, and specific locations. The term “numinous” is derived from their address, highlighting their spiritual significance. Pomona’s charge included nurturing and inspiring the fertility of thriving gardens, with her own garden reputedly regarded as the most exquisite in existence.
Pomona was said to reside in the forest between Rome and Ostia, focusing her efforts on ensuring the well-being of fruit trees found within a woodland known as Pomonal. Despite attracting the attentions of many nature deities, she remained aloof until Vertumnus persuaded her of the folly in resisting love and revealed his true identity. Additionally, Pomona had a priest in Rome, known as the Flamen Pomonalis, and a sacred grove, also called Pomonal, situated near Ostia, the ancient port of Rome.
Her tale in Roman mythology intricately weaves how she ultimately overcame her initial reluctance towards love, leading her to develop feelings for Vertumnus, the deity representing seasonal change and plant growth.
Pomona in Popular Culture
In “Percy Jackson and the Olympians,” specifically in The Last Olympian, Percy mistakes a bronze statue of Pomona for the Greek goddess Demeter. This prompts an indignant reaction from the statue, which retaliates by hurling metal apples at Percy while proclaiming its allegiance to the Titans, criticizing the lack of recognition for minor deities.
In The Heroes of Olympus, the character Clovis informs Annabeth and Jason of Pomona’s strictly Roman nature, clarifying that she lacks a counterpart in Greek mythology.
Physical Appearance
In mythology, Pomona is often depicted wearing a simple brown gown complemented by a leafy wreath atop her head to protect her from the sun’s rays. Her remarkable beauty drew many suitors, compelling her to seclude herself within her own orchard to escape their advances.
Divine Abilities
As a goddess, Pomona possesses traditional divine attributes, including:
- Chlorokinesis: This grants her significant control over plant life, albeit to a lesser extent than her counterpart Ceres.
- Karpokinesis: As the fruit goddess, she holds dominion over fruits, also with powers less potent than those of Ceres.
- Wall Generation: Pomona has the unique capability to create protective barriers, which proved invaluable in keeping unwanted divine suitors at bay; she once constructed an impenetrable wall around her orchard, accessible only to her.
Additional Insights
Interestingly, Pomona has no Greek equivalent, akin to deities like Janus, Terminus, and Bellona. Sometimes, she is associated with Carpo, a Greek goddess connected to harvesting, though her mention predominantly revolves around the flourishing of trees rather than their harvest.
The term Pomona also refers to the mainland in Orkney, and the goddess has occasionally been confused with Demeter, as evidenced by her statue. Additionally, Pomona’s name originates from the Latin word “pomum,” meaning fruit.
Interestingly, Pomona is notable for being one of the only two Roman deities featured in the first series of Percy Jackson, the other being Janus; however, she appeared merely as an automaton.
