A projector, comprising: a light source; a polarization conversion optical system that converts non-polarized light to substantially one type of polarized light; an electro-optic device that has a rectangular display area and modulates light, the light being emitted from the light source and being received by the polarization conversion optic system; two polarizers that are disposed respectively on a light incoming side and a light outgoing side of the electro-optic device; and a projection optical system that projects light output from the electro-optic device; wherein the polarizer that is disposed on the light outgoing side of the electro-optic device comprises: a first prism having a light incoming surface (S1i) and a light outgoing surface (S1o), facing each other in a non-parallel orientation; a light reflective polarizing plate on the light outgoing surface (S1o) of the first prism; a second prism having a light incoming surface (S2i) on a light outgoing side of the light reflective polarizing plate and a light outgoing surface (S2o) in non-parallel orientation with the light incoming surface (S2i); and a light absorbing polarizing plate disposed on a light outgoing surface of the light reflective polarizing plate or on the light outgoing surface (S2o) of the second prism; wherein the light reflective polarizing plate divides light emitted from the first prism into first and second polarized lights having different polarizing directions, and transmits the first polarized light while reflecting the second polarized light, and an angle (α) defined by the light incoming surface (S1 i) and the light outgoing surface (S1o) of the first prism is set to cause the second polarized light, which has been reflected by the light reflective polarizing plate and returned to the first prism, to be totally reflected by the light incoming surface (S1 i). a light source; a polarization conversion optical system that converts non-polarized light to substantially one type of polarized light; an electro-optic device that has a rectangular display area and modulates light, the light being emitted from the light source and being received by the polarization conversion optic system; two polarizers that are disposed respectively on a light incoming side and a light outgoing side of the electro-optic device; and a projection optical system that projects light output from the electro-optic device; wherein the polarizer that is disposed on the light outgoing side of the electro-optic device comprises: a first prism having a light incoming surface (S1i) and a light outgoing surface (S1o), facing each other in a non-parallel orientation; a light reflective polarizing plate on the light outgoing surface (S1o) of the first prism; a second prism having a light incoming surface (S2i) on a light outgoing side of the light reflective polarizing plate and a light outgoing surface (S2o) in non-parallel orientation with the light incoming surface (S2i); and a light absorbing polarizing plate disposed on a light outgoing surface of the light reflective polarizing plate or on the light outgoing surface (S2o) of the second prism; a first prism having a light incoming surface (S1i) and a light outgoing surface (S1o), facing each other in a non-parallel orientation; a light reflective polarizing plate on the light outgoing surface (S1o) of the first prism; a second prism having a light incoming surface (S2i) on a light outgoing side of the light reflective polarizing plate and a light outgoing surface (S2o) in non-parallel orientation with the light incoming surface (S2i); and a light absorbing polarizing plate disposed on a light outgoing surface of the light reflective polarizing plate or on the light outgoing surface (S2o) of the second prism; wherein the light reflective polarizing plate divides light emitted from the first prism into first and second polarized lights having different polarizing directions, and transmits the first polarized light while reflecting the second polarized light, and an angle (α) defined by the light incoming surface (S1 i) and the light outgoing surface (S1o) of the first prism is set to cause the second polarized light, which has been reflected by the light reflective polarizing plate and returned to the first prism, to be totally reflected by the light incoming surface (S1 i).