The Old English prose text Apollonius of Tyre is a translation from Latin into the vernacular of a tale of romance that was widely known in the Middle Ages and later. It is a tale of love and adventure, set in the pagan mediterranean world of classical antiquity, with exciting episodes involving shipwreck, piracy, separation and reunion, and supernatural intervention. As such, Apollonius of Tyre conforms closely to the conventions of the popular genre of Greek romance, which developed in the late classical period. It is not known whether Apollonius itself was originally written in Greek, since early texts of the romance are known only in Latin, but whether composed originally in Greek or Latin, Apollonius amply demonstrates the hallmarks of romance, and it provided diverting entertainment both in antiquity and down to the time...
630 words
Citation: Magennis, Hugh. "The Old English Apollonius of Tyre". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 30 April 2003 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=11995, accessed 12 February 2026.]
