A projection type image display apparatus includes a light source to emit light; a polarizing beam splitter to polarize the light received from the light source; a first lens array including a plurality of first lens cells having rectangular shapes to receive the light from the polarizing beam splitter, each first lens cell having a first side and a second side, the first side being longer than the second side, the first lens array having a rectangular shape, the first lens array having a third side and a fourth side, the third side being longer than the fourth side, the first sides of the first lens cells and the third side of the first lens array extending along a first direction; a second lens array including a plurality of second lens cells and being configured to receive the light from the first lens array, the second lens array having a rectangular shape and having a fifth side and a sixth side, the fifth and sixth sides of the second lens array having substantially the same dimensions as the third and fourth sides of the first lens array; a color separator configured to separate the light from the second lens array into a plurality of light rays of different colors; an image display device configured to form an optical image from the plurality of light rays; and a projector configured to project the plurality of light rays emitted from the image display device as a color image.