An image display apparatus for displaying stereoscopic images, comprising: a transmission type display panel for displaying the images; a reflection unit disposed at a back side of the transmission type display panel; and a light source unit including a pair of elongated light sources (29, 31) attached adjacent the back side of the transmission type display panel in a position to emit light to a reflecting surface of the reflection unit, and arranged opposed to each other across a focus of the reflection unit in the plan view; characterized in that the reflection unit includes an elliptical mirror which corresponds to part of an arc of an ellipse and has the reflecting surface shaped symmetrical across a center line perpendicular to the transmission type display panel in a plan view, one focus of the ellipse being adjacent the reflecting surface, and the other focus of the ellipse being set between both eyes of an observer; and the light source unit includes an upper light source unit having an upper first light source and an upper second light source attached to an upper portion of the transmission type display panel, parallel to the long side of the panel, and a lower light source unit having a lower first light source and a lower second light source attached to a lower portion of the transmission type display panel, parallel to the long side of the panel; the apparatus further comprising: an image output device for alternately outputting a first image, corresponding to an image for the right eye of an observer, and a second image, corresponding to an image for the left eye of an observer, to the transmission type display panel; and a light source control device for switching on the upper first light source and the lower first light source when the first image is outputted, and switching on the upper second light source and the lower second light source when the second image is outputted. a transmission type display panel for displaying the images; a reflection unit disposed at a back side of the transmission type display panel; and a light source unit including a pair of elongated light sources (29, 31) attached adjacent the back side of the transmission type display panel in a position to emit light to a reflecting surface of the reflection unit, and arranged opposed to each other across a focus of the reflection unit in the plan view; characterized in that the reflection unit includes an elliptical mirror which corresponds to part of an arc of an ellipse and has the reflecting surface shaped symmetrical across a center line perpendicular to the transmission type display panel in a plan view, one focus of the ellipse being adjacent the reflecting surface, and the other focus of the ellipse being set between both eyes of an observer; and the light source unit includes an upper light source unit having an upper first light source and an upper second light source attached to an upper portion of the transmission type display panel, parallel to the long side of the panel, and a lower light source unit having a lower first light source and a lower second light source attached to a lower portion of the transmission type display panel, parallel to the long side of the panel; the apparatus further comprising: an image output device for alternately outputting a first image, corresponding to an image for the right eye of an observer, and a second image, corresponding to an image for the left eye of an observer, to the transmission type display panel; and a light source control device for switching on the upper first light source and the lower first light source when the first image is outputted, and switching on the upper second light source and the lower second light source when the second image is outputted. an image output device for alternately outputting a first image, corresponding to an image for the right eye of an observer, and a second image, corresponding to an image for the left eye of an observer, to the transmission type display panel; and a light source control device for switching on the upper first light source and the lower first light source when the first image is outputted, and switching on the upper second light source and the lower second light source when the second image is outputted.