Duris of Samos (Δοῦρις ὁ Σάμιος) was a Greek historian and tyrant of his native island, born around 340 BCE and a descendant of Alcibiades [1]. He studied under Theophrastus in Athens before returning to Samos after Alexander the Great’s death, where he seized power and ruled as a reportedly harsh tyrant from before 300 BCE until at least 281 BCE [1][2]. He was also an Olympic victor in boys' boxing [1][2].

His historical works survive only in fragments. The major ones are the Histories (Macedonica), covering 371–281 BCE, and the Annals of Samos, a local history of the island [1][2]. A biography of Agathocles of Syracuse and a work on Euripides and Sophocles are less securely attributed to him [1].

Duris is a significant, though fragmentary, source for early Hellenistic history. Ancient critics like Plutarch and Dionysius of Halicarnassus accused him of prioritizing sensational, tragic narrative over accuracy—a style labeled "tragic history" [1][2]. Modern scholarship debates whether this represents a distinct school or a broader trend. His fragments provide valuable details on the Diadochi and Hellenistic court culture [1][2].

Sources 1. Encyclopædia Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Duris-of-Samos 2. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Classics: https://oxfordre.com/classics/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199381135.001.0001/acrefore-9780199381135-e-2337