ホメロスの『アポローン讃歌』では、アポローンは北からの侵入者として描かれている<ref>Herbert W. Park (1956). ''The delphic oracle''. Vol.I, p. 3</ref>。北方に住むドーリア人とその創始者であるアペライとの関係は、北西ギリシャの暦にあるアペライオスの月によって強調されている<ref>Graf, ''Apollo'', pp. 104–113; Burkert also notes in this context Archilochus ''Fr''. 94.</ref>。家族祭はアポローン(Doric: Ἀπέλων)に捧げられた<ref>Burkert, [https://books.google.com.au/books?id=sxurBtx6shoC&pg=PA255 p. 255].</ref>。アペライオス(Apellaios)はこれらの儀式の月であり、アペロン(Apellon)は「メギストス・クーロス(偉大なクーロス、megistos kouros)」であった<ref>Jane Ellen Harrison (2010): ''Themis: A study to the Social origins of Greek Religion''. Cambridge University Press. p. 441. ISBN:1108009492</ref>。しかし、この名前は、古代マケドニア語の「ペラ」(Pella)、つまり石と結びついたドーリア型であることだけは説明できる。石は神の崇拝に重要な役割を果たし、特にデルフォイの神託所(Omphalos)では重要な役割を果たした<ref>Compare: Baetylus. In Semitic: sacred stone</ref><ref>Martin Nilsson (1967). Vol I. p. 556</ref>。
===Minoan originミノアでの起源 ===
[[File:AMI - Goldene Doppelaxt.jpg|thumb|250px|Ornamented golden [[Minoan civilization|Minoan]] [[labrys]]]]
George Huxley regarded the identification of Apollo with the Minoan deity Paiawon, worshipped in Crete, to have originated at Delphi.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Huxley|first=George|date=1975-06-06|title=Cretan Paiawones|url=https://grbs.library.duke.edu/article/view/8541|journal=Greek, Roman, and Byzantine Studies|language=en|volume=16|issue=2|pages=119–124|issn=2159-3159}}</ref> In the ''Homeric Hymn'', Apollo appeared as a dolphin and carried Cretan priests to Delphi, where they evidently transferred their religious practices. ''Apollo Delphinios'' or ''Delphidios'' was a sea-god especially worshipped in Crete and in the islands.<ref>Martin Nilsson (1967). Vol I, p. 554 A4</ref> Apollo's sister [[Artemis]], who was the Greek goddess of hunting, is identified with [[Britomartis]] (Diktynna), the Minoan "Mistress of the animals". In her earliest depictions she was accompanied by the "Master of the animals", a bow-wielding god of hunting whose name has been lost; aspects of this figure may have been absorbed into the more popular Apollo.<ref name="Nilsson499">Martin Nilsson (1967), Vol I, pp. 499–500</ref>