Apollonius of Tyre

Apollonius of Tyre is a medieval play and story named after the story's main character.

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The work was popular throughout the medieval period and many varied adaptations were written in several language making the plot difficult to summarise. The basic story is of Apollonius of Tyre who is hunted and persecuted by a king after Apollonius reveals the king's incestuous relationship with his daughter. After many travels and adventures, in which Apollonius loses both his wife and his daughter and thinks them both dead, he is eventually reunited with his family through unlikely circumstances or intercession by gods. The idea that inappropriate lust is punished—the incestuous king invariably comes to a bad end—and that love and fidelity is rewarded is the major theme of most versions.

Related Topics:
Tyre - Incestuous

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The story is first mentioned by Venantius Fortunatus in his Carmina (Bk. vi. 8, 11. 5-6) during the late 6th century. But this was a Latin version and it is conjectured that there was an older Greek version from the 3rd century. Certainly the Ephesian Tale by Xenophon of Ephesus, who lived about this time is markedly similar. The incest story line seems to have been a later addition, as are the riddles which are a feature of many of the versions. The composing and telling of riddles seems to have been a popular pastime of the middle ages.

Related Topics:
Venantius Fortunatus - 6th century - Latin - Greek - 3rd century - Ephesian Tale - Xenophon of Ephesus - Riddle - Middle ages

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The earliest manuscripts of its Latin version date from the 9th or 10th century but the most commonly known version from that time was Gottfried von Viterbo's who recorded in his Pantheon of 1185 as if it were actual history. The earliest known version not in Latin was an Old English translation from the 11th century. It is unusual for such a romance to written at this time, apparently by monks, when most literature was of a religious or devotional nature. Because of this, and despite missing a large portion in the centre of the story, it is sometimes called the first English novel. English novel

Related Topics:
9th - 10th century - Gottfried von Viterbo - Pantheon - 1185 - Old English - 11th century - Romance - English - Novel - English novel

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Other editions and folk tales with similar themes appeared throughout Europe and a version found its way into the Gesta Romanorum. Much of the eighth book of John Gower's Confessio Amantis is devoted to retelling the story as an exemplum against sloth. Lawrence Twine and Robert Copeland also created English version. Shakespeare would use Gower's account, and after a change of name—probably inspired by Philip Sidney's Arcadia—would retell the story in his Pericles, Prince of Tyre.

Related Topics:
Folk tales - Europe - Gesta Romanorum - John Gower - Confessio Amantis - Exemplum - Sloth - Lawrence Twine - Robert Copeland - Shakespeare - Philip Sidney - Arcadia - Pericles, Prince of Tyre

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