Pericles, the Prince of Tyre flees Antioch and goes back to Tyre because he knows that Antiochus, the King of Antioch, is having an incestuous affair with his daughter. Antiochus is determined to kill him and pursues him. Pericles flees again, first to Tyre and then to Pentopolis. He leaves Tyre in the care of his counsellor, Helicanus. En route the ship is wrecked and Pericles is the only survivor.