mythology, a god who presided over gardens and orchards, honoured among the Etruscans, from whom the worship of this deity was transmitted to the Romans.

Ovid has described the various forms assumed by this deity, in order to obtain the love of Pomona. Some have supposed that Vertumnus, whose name they derive a vertendo, because he had power to change his form at pleasure, marked the year and its variations; and thus they say he pleased Pomona, by bringing the fruits to maturity. Accordingly, Ovid says, that he assumed the form of a labourer, reaper, vine-dresser, and old woman, to represent the four seasons, spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Vertumnus had a temple near the market-place at Rome, being represented as one of the tutelary deities of the merchants. The commentators on Ovid say, that he was an ancient king of Hetruria, who, by his diligent and successful cultivation of fruits and gardens, obtained the honour of being ranked among the gods.