The Origin of Apollo

TLDR: In this article, it was argued that Apollo is a Pre-Greek-Anatolian name and the expected proto-form of this name is found in the name Appaliunas, a god of Wilusa/Ilios mentioned in a Hittite letter.

Abstract: We shall argue that Burkert's etymology deriving the name Apollo from a Dorian word for 'assembly', απeλλα, is linguistically and historically impossible. This means that the possibility of Anatolian origin is open again. It is argued that Apollo is a Pre-Greek-Anatolian name. The expected proto-form of this name is found in the name Appaliunas , a god of Wilusa/Ilios mentioned in a Hittite letter. This strongly suggests Anatolian origin of the name. This is confirmed by the Homeric epithet αυκηγeνηζ, which has long been recognised as an archaic formation meaning 'born in Lycia'. This fits well with the strong Anatolian connections of Apollo as well as his mother Leto and his sister Artemis. L'etymologie proposee par Burkert du mot Apollon comme derive du mot apella, 'assemblee', est impossible, pour des raisons linguistiques et historiques. Il est donc possible que le mot, et le dieu, est d'origine anatolienne. Le nom est pre-grecanatolien. La proto-forme expectee est trouvee dans le nom Appaliunas , dieu de Wilusa / Ilios mentionne dans une lettre hittite, ce qui est une belle confirmation d'une origine anatolienne. Ceci est confirme par l'epithete homerique Lukegenes, 'ne en Lycie'. Une origine anatolienne est en accord avec les liens d'Apollon lui meme, sa mere Leto et sa soeur Artemis avec l'Anatolie.