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Duris of Samos |
Duris of Samos, Greek historian, according to his own account a descendant of Alcibiades1, was born about 340 BC. He must have been born and passed his early years in exile, since from 352 to 324 Samos was occupied by Athenian cleruchs, who had expelled the original inhabitants. He was for some time despot of his native island. Duris was the author of a comprehensive historical work on Hellenico-Macedonian history, from the battle of Leuctra (371 BC) down to the death of Lysimachus (281 BC), which was largely used by Diodorus Siculus. Other works by him included a life of Agathocles of Syracuse, the annals of Samos chronologically arranged according to the lists of the priests of Hera, and a number of treatises on literary and artistic subjects. Ancient authorities do not appear to have held a very high opinion of his merits as a historian. Plutarch repeatedly expresses doubt as to his trustworthiness2345, Dionysius of Halicarnassus (De compos. verborum, 4) speaks disparagingly of his style, and Photius (cod. 176) regards the arrangement of his work as altogether faulty. Cicero (ad Att. vi.I) accords him qualified praise as an industrious writer. Only fragments of his works survive.
He was the brother of Lynceus of Samos. It is sometimes said that Duris studied under Theophrastus at Athens, but this statement depends on a conjectural emendation (by Adamantios Korais) of the text of the Deipnosophistae of Athenaeus. If the manuscript reading is retained, the text says that Lynceus, not Duris, was Theophrastus's pupil.
Scaeus, the son of Duris, obtained a prize for boxing at the Olympic Games; a statue by Hippias was set up in commemoration of his victory6.
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