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Duris of Samos

January 06, 2023

Duris of Samos (or Douris) (Greek: Δοῦρις ὁ Σάμιος; c. 350 BC – after 281 BC) was a Greek historian and was at some period tyrant of Samos. Duris was the author of a narrative history of events in Greece and Macedonia from 371 BC to 281 BC, which has been lost. Other works included a life of Agathocles of Syracuse and a number of treatises on literary and artistic subjects.

Duris of Samos
Relief inscribed stele with the Samian honorary decree
Bornc. 350 BC
DiedAfter 281 BC
Samos
Occupation(s)Tyrant
Historian
Known forRuling Samos
Writing history
Notable workA narrative history of Greece

Personal and political life

Duris claimed to be a descendant of Alcibiades.[1] He had a son, Scaeus, who won the boys' boxing at the Olympian Games "while the Samians were in exile";[2] that is, before 324 BC. From 352 to 324 Samos was occupied by Athenian cleruchs who had expelled the native Samians.[3] Duris therefore may well have been born at some date close to 350 BC, and, since his main historical work ended with the death of Lysimachus in 281 BC, must have died at an unknown date after that. Some modern sources assume that the Olympic victor Scaeus must have been the father, not the son, of the historian Duris; hence he is described in at least two encyclopedias as "son of Scaeus".[4] The ancient sources, admittedly meagre, do not support this. Duris was the brother of Lynceus of Samos, author of comedies, letters and the essay Shopping for Food.[5][6]

Many 20th century works state that Duris was a pupil of Theophrastus at Athens.[7] There is no evidence for this claim other than a conjectural emendation by Adamantios Korais of the text of the Deipnosophistae of Athenaeus. The emendation was published by J. Schweighäuser in 1802 and has been accepted by all subsequent editors of Athenaeus.[8] The manuscript text says not that Duris studied under Theophrastus, but that his brother Lynceus and Lynceus's correspondent Hippolochus did so.[9]

The only recorded fact about Duris's public life is that he was tyrant, or sole ruler, of Samos.[10] How he attained this position, for how long he held it, and what events took place under his rule, are unknown. "His reign was uneventful", Hazel guesses.[4]

Writings

Duris was the author of a narrative history of events in Greece and Macedonia from the battle of Leuctra (371 BC) down to the death of Lysimachus (281 BC). This work, like all his others, is lost; over thirty fragments are known through quotations by other authors, including Plutarch. It was continued in the Histories of Phylarchus. Other works by Duris included a life of Agathocles of Syracuse, which was a source for books 19-21 of the Historical Library of Diodorus Siculus. Duris also wrote historical annals of Samos arranged according to the lists of the priests of Hera; and a number of treatises on literary and artistic subjects.[11][12]

List of works

Parts of eight of Duris's works survive, ranging from 33 fragments of his Histories to a single, small fragment from his On Sculpture. A full listing is:[11][12]

  • Histories (also listed as Macedonica and Hellenica; 33 fragments)
  • On Agathocles (also listed as Libyca; 13 fragments)
  • Annals of Samos (22 fragments)
  • On Laws (2 fragments)
  • On Games (4 fragments)
  • On Tragedy (and perhaps On Euripides and Sophocles; 2 fragments)
  • On Painters (2 fragments)
  • On Sculpture (1 fragment)

Later opinions

Of those later authors who knew Duris's work, few praise it. Cicero accords him qualified praise as an industrious writer.[13] Plutarch used his work but repeatedly expresses doubt as to his trustworthiness.[14] Dionysius of Halicarnassus speaks disparagingly of his style.[15] Photius regards the arrangement of his work as altogether faulty.[16] By contrast with recent predecessors such as Ephorus, Duris served as the exemplar of a new fashion for "tragic history"[17] which gave entertainment and excitement greater importance than factual reporting. In Plutarch's "Life of Pericles" a telling example is Duris's elaborate (and, according to Plutarch, exaggerated) description of cruelty and extensive destruction at Samos when Athenian forces, led by Pericles, subdued the island.[18]

Recent critics, believing that Duris was a pupil of Theophrastus, have attempted either to demonstrate that "tragic history" agreed with the teachings of the Peripatetic school[19] or to analyse Duris's motives for taking a different line from his supposed teachers.[20] The debate was inevitably inconclusive.[21]

References

  1. ^ Plutarch, Life of Alcibiades 32
  2. ^ Pausanias, Guide to Greece 6.13.5.
  3. ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Duris" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 8 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 711.
  4. ^ a b Hazel, John (2000). Who's who in the Greek world. London: Routledge. ISBN 0203159713. OCLC 49414903.
  5. ^ Athenaeus, Deipnosophists, 4.128.
  6. ^ Athenaeus, Deipnosophists, Book 4.
  7. ^ E.g. Barron (1962); Brink (1960); Kebric (1974), (1977); even as late as Hazel (1999); but not J. G. Frazer (Pausanias's Description of Greece vol. 4 [1898] p. 41), and not von Albrecht (1975).
  8. ^ Dalby (1991).
  9. ^ Athenaeus 128a; Lynceus is also named as a student of Theophrastus at Athenaeus 100e and Suda s.v. Lynkeus.
  10. ^ Athenaeus 337d; Suda s.v. Lynkeus.
  11. ^ a b C. Müller, Fragmenta historicorum Graecorum vol. 2 (Paris, 1848) pp. 466–488. [Greek with Latin translation and commentary]
  12. ^ a b F. Jacoby, Die Fragmente der griechischen Historiker vol. 2A pp. 1136–1158 [Greek text]; vol. 2C pp. 115–131 [German commentary]
  13. ^ Cicero, Letters to Atticus 6.1.
  14. ^ Plutarch, Life of Alcibiades 32; Life of Demosthenes 23; Plutarch, Life of Eumenes 1.
  15. ^ Dionysius, On Composition 4.
  16. ^ Photius, Library 176.
  17. ^ Michael Grant, The Ancient Historians (New York, NY: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1970) p. 142.
  18. ^ Plutarch, Life of Pericles 28.
  19. ^ Brink (1960); Okin (1974), (1980).
  20. ^ Kebric (1974), (1977); Walbank (1960); see Walbank's Polybius (Berkeley, 1972) p. 35.
  21. ^ A. Lesky, A History of Greek Literature (2nd ed., Eng. trans., London, 1966) p. 765; Dalby (1991).

Bibliography

Editions of the fragments

Modern scholarship

  • J. P. Barron, "The Tyranny of Duris of Samos" in Classical Review new series vol. 12 (1962) pp. 189–192.
  • C. O. Brink, "Tragic History and Aristotle's School" in Proceedings of the Cambridge Philological Society vol. 186 (1960) pp. 14–19.
  • A. Dalby, "The Curriculum Vitae of Duris of Samos" in Classical quarterly new series vol. 41 (1991) pp. 539–541.
  • R. B. Kebric, In the Shadow of Macedon: Duris of Samos. Wiesbaden, 1977.
  • R. B. Kebric, "A Note on Duris in Athens" in Classical Philology vol. 69 (1974) pp. 286–287.
  • F. Landucci Gattinoni, Duride di Samo. Roma, 1997.
  • L. Okin, Studies on Duris of Samos. University of Michigan dissertation, 1974.
  • L. Okin, "A Hellenistic Historian Looks at Mythology" in Panhellenica (Lawrence, Kansas, 1980).
  • P. Pédech, Trois historiens méconnus: Théopompe, Duris, Phylarque. Paris, 1989.
  • E. Schwartz, "Duris (3)" in Paulys Realencyclopädie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft: neue Bearbeitung (Stuttgart: J. B. Metzler, 1894-1980) vol. 5 pt 2 cols 1853-1856.
  • F. W. Walbank, "History and Tragedy" in Historia vol. 9 (1960) pp. 216–234.
  • C. Baron, Timaeus of Tauromenium and Hellenistic Historiography (2012) pp. 247–255.

Other encyclopedias

  • M. von Albrecht, "Duris (1)" in Der kleine Pauly ed. Konrat Ziegler, Walther Sontheimer (Munich: Artemis, 1975).
  • D. Bowder, "Duris of Samos" in Who Was Who in the Greek World (Ithaca, NY: Cornell UP, 1982) pp. 101–102.
  • "Duris of Samos" in The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. (2008).
  • J. Hazel, "Duris (2)" in J. Hazel, Who's Who in the Greek World (London, 1999) p. 89.
  • R. Schmitt, "" in Encyclopædia Iranica. OCLC 311688910

January 06, 2023
duris, samos, douris, greek, Δοῦρις, Σάμιος, after, greek, historian, some, period, tyrant, samos, duris, author, narrative, history, events, greece, macedonia, from, which, been, lost, other, works, included, life, agathocles, syracuse, number, treatises, lit. Duris of Samos or Douris Greek Doῦris ὁ Samios c 350 BC after 281 BC was a Greek historian and was at some period tyrant of Samos Duris was the author of a narrative history of events in Greece and Macedonia from 371 BC to 281 BC which has been lost Other works included a life of Agathocles of Syracuse and a number of treatises on literary and artistic subjects Duris of SamosRelief inscribed stele with the Samian honorary decreeBornc 350 BCDiedAfter 281 BCSamosOccupation s TyrantHistorianKnown forRuling SamosWriting historyNotable workA narrative history of Greece Contents 1 Personal and political life 2 Writings 2 1 List of works 2 2 Later opinions 3 References 4 Bibliography 4 1 Editions of the fragments 4 2 Modern scholarship 4 3 Other encyclopediasPersonal and political life EditDuris claimed to be a descendant of Alcibiades 1 He had a son Scaeus who won the boys boxing at the Olympian Games while the Samians were in exile 2 that is before 324 BC From 352 to 324 Samos was occupied by Athenian cleruchs who had expelled the native Samians 3 Duris therefore may well have been born at some date close to 350 BC and since his main historical work ended with the death of Lysimachus in 281 BC must have died at an unknown date after that Some modern sources assume that the Olympic victor Scaeus must have been the father not the son of the historian Duris hence he is described in at least two encyclopedias as son of Scaeus 4 The ancient sources admittedly meagre do not support this Duris was the brother of Lynceus of Samos author of comedies letters and the essay Shopping for Food 5 6 Many 20th century works state that Duris was a pupil of Theophrastus at Athens 7 There is no evidence for this claim other than a conjectural emendation by Adamantios Korais of the text of the Deipnosophistae of Athenaeus The emendation was published by J Schweighauser in 1802 and has been accepted by all subsequent editors of Athenaeus 8 The manuscript text says not that Duris studied under Theophrastus but that his brother Lynceus and Lynceus s correspondent Hippolochus did so 9 The only recorded fact about Duris s public life is that he was tyrant or sole ruler of Samos 10 How he attained this position for how long he held it and what events took place under his rule are unknown His reign was uneventful Hazel guesses 4 Writings EditDuris was the author of a narrative history of events in Greece and Macedonia from the battle of Leuctra 371 BC down to the death of Lysimachus 281 BC This work like all his others is lost over thirty fragments are known through quotations by other authors including Plutarch It was continued in the Histories of Phylarchus Other works by Duris included a life of Agathocles of Syracuse which was a source for books 19 21 of the Historical Library of Diodorus Siculus Duris also wrote historical annals of Samos arranged according to the lists of the priests of Hera and a number of treatises on literary and artistic subjects 11 12 List of works Edit Parts of eight of Duris s works survive ranging from 33 fragments of his Histories to a single small fragment from his On Sculpture A full listing is 11 12 Histories also listed as Macedonica and Hellenica 33 fragments On Agathocles also listed as Libyca 13 fragments Annals of Samos 22 fragments On Laws 2 fragments On Games 4 fragments On Tragedy and perhaps On Euripides and Sophocles 2 fragments On Painters 2 fragments On Sculpture 1 fragment Later opinions Edit Of those later authors who knew Duris s work few praise it Cicero accords him qualified praise as an industrious writer 13 Plutarch used his work but repeatedly expresses doubt as to his trustworthiness 14 Dionysius of Halicarnassus speaks disparagingly of his style 15 Photius regards the arrangement of his work as altogether faulty 16 By contrast with recent predecessors such as Ephorus Duris served as the exemplar of a new fashion for tragic history 17 which gave entertainment and excitement greater importance than factual reporting In Plutarch s Life of Pericles a telling example is Duris s elaborate and according to Plutarch exaggerated description of cruelty and extensive destruction at Samos when Athenian forces led by Pericles subdued the island 18 Recent critics believing that Duris was a pupil of Theophrastus have attempted either to demonstrate that tragic history agreed with the teachings of the Peripatetic school 19 or to analyse Duris s motives for taking a different line from his supposed teachers 20 The debate was inevitably inconclusive 21 References Edit Plutarch Life of Alcibiades 32 Pausanias Guide to Greece 6 13 5 Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Duris Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 8 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 711 a b Hazel John 2000 Who s who in the Greek world London Routledge ISBN 0203159713 OCLC 49414903 Athenaeus Deipnosophists 4 128 Athenaeus Deipnosophists Book 4 E g Barron 1962 Brink 1960 Kebric 1974 1977 even as late as Hazel 1999 but not J G Frazer Pausanias s Description of Greece vol 4 1898 p 41 and not von Albrecht 1975 Dalby 1991 Athenaeus 128a Lynceus is also named as a student of Theophrastus at Athenaeus 100e and Suda s v Lynkeus Athenaeus 337d Suda s v Lynkeus a b C Muller Fragmenta historicorum Graecorum vol 2 Paris 1848 pp 466 488 Greek with Latin translation and commentary a b F Jacoby Die Fragmente der griechischen Historiker vol 2A pp 1136 1158 Greek text vol 2C pp 115 131 German commentary Cicero Letters to Atticus 6 1 Plutarch Life of Alcibiades 32 Life of Demosthenes 23 Plutarch Life of Eumenes 1 Dionysius On Composition 4 Photius Library 176 Michael Grant The Ancient Historians New York NY Charles Scribner s Sons 1970 p 142 Plutarch Life of Pericles 28 Brink 1960 Okin 1974 1980 Kebric 1974 1977 Walbank 1960 see Walbank s Polybius Berkeley 1972 p 35 A Lesky A History of Greek Literature 2nd ed Eng trans London 1966 p 765 Dalby 1991 Bibliography EditEditions of the fragments Edit C Muller Fragmenta historicorum Graecorum vol 2 Paris 1848 pp 466 488 Greek with Latin translation and commentary F Jacoby Die Fragmente der griechischen Historiker vol 2A pp 1136 1158 Greek text vol 2C pp 115 131 German commentary Modern scholarship Edit J P Barron The Tyranny of Duris of Samos in Classical Review new series vol 12 1962 pp 189 192 C O Brink Tragic History and Aristotle s School in Proceedings of the Cambridge Philological Society vol 186 1960 pp 14 19 A Dalby The Curriculum Vitae of Duris of Samos in Classical quarterly new series vol 41 1991 pp 539 541 R B Kebric In the Shadow of Macedon Duris of Samos Wiesbaden 1977 R B Kebric A Note on Duris in Athens in Classical Philology vol 69 1974 pp 286 287 F Landucci Gattinoni Duride di Samo Roma 1997 L Okin Studies on Duris of Samos University of Michigan dissertation 1974 L Okin A Hellenistic Historian Looks at Mythology in Panhellenica Lawrence Kansas 1980 P Pedech Trois historiens meconnus Theopompe Duris Phylarque Paris 1989 E Schwartz Duris 3 in Paulys Realencyclopadie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft neue Bearbeitung Stuttgart J B Metzler 1894 1980 vol 5 pt 2 cols 1853 1856 F W Walbank History and Tragedy in Historia vol 9 1960 pp 216 234 C Baron Timaeus of Tauromenium and Hellenistic Historiography 2012 pp 247 255 Other encyclopedias Edit M von Albrecht Duris 1 in Der kleine Pauly ed Konrat Ziegler Walther Sontheimer Munich Artemis 1975 D Bowder Duris of Samos in Who Was Who in the Greek World Ithaca NY Cornell UP 1982 pp 101 102 Duris of Samos in The Columbia Encyclopedia 6th ed 2008 J Hazel Duris 2 in J Hazel Who s Who in the Greek World London 1999 p 89 R Schmitt Duris of Samos in Encyclopaedia Iranica OCLC 311688910 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Duris of Samos amp oldid 1097734357, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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