Sun-God Goitosyros

Scythian · deity · timeless (attested 5th c. BCE) · Recorded classification

Sun-god (Scythian Apollo). The Greek forms vary between Γοιτόσυρος and Οἰτόσυρος in the manuscript tradition. Aniconic: no cult image attested.

Domains

Goitosyros latin · Goitosyros (Oetosyrus) · literaryThe solar god whom Herodotus equates with ApolloHerodotus 4.59 (primary)
Ἀπόλλων Greek (interpretatio graeca) · Apollon · cultApollo (Herodotos' interpretatio for the Scythian sun-god)Herodotus, Histories 4.59 (primary)

interpretatio: ApolloHdt: 'Apollo, in Scythian Goitosyros.' The match runs through solar brightness; nothing oracular, musical, or archer-like is attested for the Scythian god — the equation is Herodotus's grid, not cult.Herodotus, Histories 4.59 (primary)

Herodotos equates the Scythian Goitosyros (Oetosyrus) with Apollo, placing him in the third rank of gods worshipped by all Scythians.: Herodotos, Histories 4.59 (Godley) (primary)
The name is analysed as *Gaiθā-sūra, from Iranian gaiθā- 'herds, possessions' (cf. Avestan gaēθā-) + sūra- 'strong, mighty' (cf. Avestan sūra-), i.e. 'mighty in flocks'. Because Apollo was a solar god in Greek thought, Goitosyros is taken as the Scythian sun-god; his function has also been compared with Iranian Mithra and Vayu.: V.I. Abaev (1949); R. Schmitt et al., Encyclopaedia Iranica, 'Scythians' (secondary)