DURIS, of Samos, Greek historian, according to his own ac count a descendant of Alcibiades, was born about 34o B.C. He must have passed his early years in exile, since from 352 to Samos was occupied by Athenian cleruchs, who had expelled the original inhabitants. He was a pupil of Theophrastus of Eresus, whom he met at Athens. When quite young he won a prize at the Olympic games; a statue by Hippias was set up to commemorate his victory (Pausanias vi. 13, 5). He was for some time despot of Samos. Duris was the author of a history (Historiae) from the battle of Leuctra (371) down to the death of Lysimachus (281), and a life of Agathocles of Syracuse (both used by Diodorus), the annals (eopoc) of Samos, arranged according to the lists of the priests of Hera, and treatises on literary and artistic subjects. Plutarch (Pericles, 28) expresses doubt as to his trustworthiness, Dionysius of Halicarnassus (De compos. verborum, 4) criticises his style, and Photius (cod. 176) the arrangement of his work. Cicero (ad Att. vi. 1) accords him qualified praise as an industrious writer.
Fragments in C. W. Muller, Frag. Hist. Graec. ii. 446, where the passage of Pausanias referred to above and the date of Duris's victory at Olympia are discussed.