Apaliunas Explained

Apaliunas
Gender:	male
Region:	Wilusa
Greek Equivalent:	Apollo
Roman Equivalent:	Apollo
Etruscan Equivalent:	Apulu

Apaliunas (Hittite: Āppaliunāš) is the name of a god, attested in a Hittite language treaty as a protective deity of Wilusa. Apaliunas is considered to be the Hittite reflex of *Apeljōn, an early form of the name Apollo, which may also be surmised from comparison of Cypriot Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Ἀπείλων (Apeílōn) with Doric Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: Ἀπέλλων (Apéllōn).^[1]

Apaliunas is among the gods who guarantee a treaty drawn up about 1280 BCE between Alaksandu of Wilusa, interpreted as "Alexander of Ilios" and the great Hittite king,^[2] Muwatalli II. He is one of the three deities named on the side of the city. In Homer, Apollo is the builder of the walls of Ilium, a god on the Trojan side. A Luwian etymology suggested for Apaliunas makes Apollo "The One of Entrapment", perhaps in the sense of "Hunter".^[3]

Sources

• Latacz, Joachim, 2001. Troia und Homer: Der Weg zur Lösung eines alten Rätsels. (Munich)
• Korfmann, Manfred, "Stelen auf den Toren Toias: Apaliunas – Apollon in Truisa – Wilusa?,” in Güven Arsebük, M. Mellink, and W. Schirmer (eds.), Light on Top of the Black Hill. Festschrift für Halet Cambel (Istanbul) 1998:471-78. Stel outside the supposed gates of Troy.

Further reading

• Brown . Edwin L. . In Search of Anatolian Apollo . Hesperia Supplements . 33 . 2004 . 243–57 . 1354071. . Accessed 12 Feb. 2023.

Notes and References

1. Book: John L. Angel. Machteld Johanna Mellink. Troy and the Trojan War: A Symposium Held at Bryn Mawr College, October 1984. 1986. Bryn Mawr Commentaries. 978-0-929524-59-7. 42 .
2. Latacz 2001:138.
3. Book: Sara Anderson Immerwahr. Anne Proctor. Chapin. Charis: Essays in Honor of Sara A. Immerwahr. 2004. Amer School of Classical. 978-0-87661-533-1. 254 .