Apaliunas

{{short description|Protective deity of Wilusa}}

{{Infobox deity

| type =

| name = Apaliunas

| gender = male

| region = Wilusa

| Greek_equivalent = Apollo

| Roman_equivalent = Apollo

| Etruscan_equivalent = Apulu

}}

Apaliunas (Hittite: 𒀀𒀊𒉺𒇷𒌋𒈾𒀸 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 {{lang|grc|Ἀπείλων}} (Apeílōn) with Doric {{lang|grc|Ἀπέλλων}} (Apéllōn).{{cite book| author = John L. Angel|author2=Machteld Johanna Mellink| title = Troy and the Trojan War: A Symposium Held at Bryn Mawr College, October 1984| year = 1986| publisher = Bryn Mawr Commentaries| isbn = 978-0-929524-59-7| page = 42 }}

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,Latacz 2001:138. 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".{{cite book| author = Sara Anderson Immerwahr|author2=Anne Proctor. Chapin| title = Charis: Essays in Honor of Sara A. Immerwahr| year = 2004| publisher = Amer School of Classical| isbn = 978-0-87661-533-1| page = 254 }}

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