VERTUMNUS (or VORTUMNUS, " turning," "changing ")  , in Roman mythology, the god of the changing year with its seasons, flowers and fruits, probably of Italian origin . Like Proteus, he had the power of assuming any shape he pleased, which enabled him to win the love of Pomona (q.v.) . His shrine and statue (see the well-known description in Propertius iv . 2) were in the Vicus Tuscus, and from his connexion with this busy street he was regarded as having a special interest in trade and barter . At another sanctuary on the slope of the Aventine, sacrifice was offered to him every year on the 13th of August . It is probable that he was of Etruscan origin (see Wissowa, Religion and Kultus der Romer, 1902, p . 233) .