Ed.: D.E. Pingree, Dorothei Sidonii Carmen Astrologicum (1976).
Irby-Massie and Keyser (2002) 93–96 (partial trans.).
Alexander Jones
D (A. II) ⇒ D (A.)
Do ̄sitheos (pharm.) (30 BCE – 540 CE)
A A 8.70 (CMG 8.2, p. 530), records his opium-based pill for “blood-spitting”
(cf. phthisis), containing also frankincense, lukion, myrtle, saffron, roses, etc.; and P
A 7.11.45 (CMG 9.2, p. 308), his liver-pill, containing aloes, kostos, malabath-
ron, mastic, shelf-fungus, etc.
Fabricius (1726) 146.
PTK
Do ̄sitheos of Pe ̄lousion (250 – 210 BCE)
Student of K and a correspondent of A. He wrote and observed in Alex-
andria, and perhaps on Ko ̄s. The name, meaning “god-given,” is typically Jewish, so it may
translate Nathaniel. After Kono ̄n died, Archime ̄de ̄s addressed four works to Do ̄sitheos,
providing requested proofs, while acknowledging Do ̄sitheos’ familiarity, not expertise, with
geometry, although according to D, On Burning Mirrors 1, he was the first to discover
the focal property of the parabola. His astronomical contributions chiefly concerned the
calendar, on which he wrote three works: Appearances of Fixed Stars (rising and setting dates),
Weather-signs (seasonal weather-predictions based on astronomical phenomena), and On the
Oktaete ̄ris of E (all lost). Notes from the first and second are preserved in the
calendar appended to G’ Introduction, in P, and in P’s Phaseis. A work
entitled To Diodo ̄ros (an exceedingly common name) apparently gave information on the life
of A.
R. Netz, “The First Jewish Scientist?” SCI 17 (1998) 27–33; BNP 4 (2004) 695 (#3), M. Folkerts.
PTK
Douris of Samos (ca 340 – 260 BCE)
Greek historian and tyrant of Samos, claimed descent from Alkibiade ̄s, probably born in
Sicily after his family’s banishment from Samos when Athens captured the island from
Persia in 366 BCE. His father, Kaios, an Olympic boxing victor, tyrant of Samos, had three
sons: Douris who inherited the Samian tyranny, Lunkeos, a comic poet and friend of
Menander, and Lusagoras involved in Samian politics. In about 304– 302 BCE Douris and
his brother Lunkeos studied under T in Athens, returning to Samos in 300.
Douris composed several historiographical works including a biography of Agathokle ̄s the
Sicilian tyrant (at least four books), a history of Macedon (at least 23 books), and a local
history of Samos (at least two books). He also wrote various (lost) works on tragedy, art, laws
and competitions. His interest in Macedon and Samos had some geographical undertones;
A expressed appreciation of Douris’ work. His style followed the
He ̄rodotean tradition, emphasizing fascination and amusement.
Ed.: FGrHist 76; P. Pédech, Trois historiens méconnus: Théopompe, Duris, Phylarque (CUF 1989) 255–389; F.
Landucci Gattinoni, Duride di Samo (1997).
DOURIS OF SAMOS