# Sinclair Bell

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**Sinclair Wynn Bell** is an American classical archaeologist and art historian. He is a Presidential Research, Scholarship, & Artistry Professor (2026-2030), Distinguished Teaching Professor, and Professor of Art History at [Northern Illinois University](/source/Northern_Illinois_University) where he teaches courses in Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan, and Roman art history, architecture, and archaeology, as well as museum studies.[1] His research focuses on the art and archaeology of the [Etruscans](/source/Etruscans); sport and spectacle in the Roman imperial period, especially the [Roman circus](/source/Roman_circus); and [slavery in ancient Rome](/source/Slavery_in_ancient_Rome), especially the material documentation and visual representation of slaves, freed persons, and foreigners in [Roman art](/source/Roman_art).[1]

## Early life and education

Bell earned his [Bachelor of Arts](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts) degree in Classical Studies and History from [Wake Forest University](/source/Wake_Forest_University), where he was a student of [Allen Mandelbaum](/source/Allen_Mandelbaum). He completed his graduate work in Classical Art and Archaeology at the [University of Oxford](/source/University_of_Oxford), the [University of Edinburgh](/source/University_of_Edinburgh), and the [University of Cologne](/source/University_of_Cologne).[2] During his graduate work, Bell was the recipient of a Postgraduate Fellowship from the [Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst](/source/Deutscher_Akademischer_Austauschdienst) (2001-2) to study with Prof. [Henner von Hesberg](/source/Henner_von_Hesberg) at the Archaeological Institute at the University of Cologne, as well as a Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Pre-Doctoral Rome Prize Fellowship in Ancient Studies at the [American Academy in Rome](/source/American_Academy_in_Rome) (2002-3).

## Career

Bell joined the Art History department faculty at [Northern Illinois University](/source/Northern_Illinois_University) as an assistant professor in 2008, was promoted to associate professor in 2012, and to professor in 2020. During the 2010–11 academic year, Bell was named a “Research Ambassador” to the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst.[3] In 2020, he was named a Presidential Teaching Professor, which "were established in 1991 to recognize and support faculty who excel in the practice of teaching" at Northern Illinois University.[4] In 2023, he was named the [2024 recipient of the Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award](https://www.archaeological.org/grant/excellence-in-undergraduate-teaching-award/) from the [Archaeological Institute of America](/source/Archaeological_Institute_of_America).

Bell has co-edited nearly 20 volumes, including a book with Teresa Ramsby on freed slaves in ancient Rome *Free at Last! The Impact of Freed Slaves on the Roman Empire*[5] and with Alexandra Carpino *A Companion to the Etruscans.*[6] Bell was selected for a three-year term as the Editor of the journal the *Memoirs of the American Academy in Rome.*[7]

He has received numerous postdoctoral grants and fellowships in support of his research, including a postdoctoral fellowship in Roman archaeology at the [University of Manitoba](/source/University_of_Manitoba) (2007-8), the Howard Fellowship from the George A. and Eliza Gardner Howard Foundation (2013),[8] the Richard D. Cohen Fellowship from the [Hutchins Center for African and African American Research](/source/Hutchins_Center_for_African_and_African_American_Research) at [Harvard University](/source/Harvard_University)[9] (2019), and a Fellowship from the [National Endowment for the Humanities](/source/National_Endowment_for_the_Humanities) (2021).[10] He also appeared as a presenter in a documentary on the Smithsonian Channel, "Rome's Chariot Superstar" [11] which was based in part on his dissertation research.

He was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London in 2023.[12]

## Selected publications

- *Roman Copies, Collecting, and Culture in the Bay of Naples and Beyond: Papers in Honor of Eugene Dwyer*, co-edited with Brad Hostetler. Oxford: Archaeopress, 2026.
- *[The Spectacle of Everyday Life in the Roman Empire: Sport and Spectacula in Art, Architecture and Social Practice](https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/isbn/9783111675053/html?lang=en&srsltid=AfmBOorKeo_-imV_AKPPT7aGlsL3xa5PhH-JXJydUI8TAmrjnnVO5vpd)*, co-edited with Nathan Elkins. Berlin: De Gruyter, 2026.
- *[Un public ou des publics? La réception des spectacles dans le monde romain entre pluralité et unanimité](https://una-editions.fr/un-public-ou-des-publics/)*, co-edited with Anne Berlan-Gallant and Sylvain Forichon. Bordeaux: Ausonius Editions, 2024.
- *[Freed Persons in the Roman World: Status, Diversity, and Representation](https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/freed-persons-in-the-roman-world/FDF855546DFF31A149370EF2400AA21E)*, co-edited with Dorian Borbonus and Rose MacLean. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2024.
- *[Brill’s Companion to the Reception of Vitruvius](https://brill.com/display/title/25318?language=en)*, co-edited with [Ingrid D. Rowland](/source/Ingrid_D._Rowland). Leiden: Brill, 2024.
- *[The Running Centaur: Horse-Racing in Global-Historical Perspective](https://www.routledge.com/The-Running-Centaur-Horse-Racing-in-Global-Historical-Perspective/Bell-Jaser-Mann/p/book/9781032162348#:~:text=Description,offers%20a%20selective%20global%20history.)*, co-edited with Christian Jaser and Christian Mann. London: Taylor & Francis, 2021.
- *[Memoirs of the American Academy in Rome](/source/Memoirs_of_the_American_Academy_in_Rome)*, Vol. 65 (2020).
- *[Roman Law before the Twelve Tables: An Interdisciplinary Approach](https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.3366/j.ctv10kmd31)*, co-edited with [Paul du Plessis](/source/Paul_du_Plessis). Edinburgh: The University of Edinburgh Press, 2020.
- *[Horse Racing in Global Historical Perspective](https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09523367.2020.1761795)*, co-edited with Christian Jaser and Christian Mann. [=The International Journal of the History of Sport 37:3-4.] London: Routledge, 2020.
- *[Child, Family, and Ancient Society: Papers in Honour of](https://www.utpjournals.press/doi/abs/10.3138/mous.16.s1-1?mobileUi=0&journalCode=mous) [Mark Golden](/source/Mark_Golden)*, co-edited with Pauline Ripat. (*Mouseion. Journal of the Classical Association of Canada* 15.3) Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2019.
- *[Memoirs of the American Academy in Rome](/source/Memoirs_of_the_American_Academy_in_Rome)*, Vol. 63/64 (2018/19).
- *[At the Crossroads of Greco-Roman History, Culture and Religion: Papers in Memory of Carin M.C. Green](https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv1228gbp)*, co-edited with Lora Holland. Oxford: Archaeopress, 2018.
- *[Sport and Social Identity in Classical Antiquity: Papers in Honour of](https://academic.oup.com/bics/issue/61/1) [Mark Golden](/source/Mark_Golden)*, co-edited with Pauline Ripat. (*Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies* 61–1.) Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2018.
- *[A Companion to the Etruscans](https://www.wiley.com/en-us/A+Companion+to+the+Etruscans-p-9781118352748)*, co-edited with Alexandra Carpino. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell, 2016.
- *[Free at Last! The Impact of Freed Slaves on the Roman Empire](https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/free-at-last-9781472502964/)*, co-edited with Teresa Ramsby. London: Bloomsbury, 2012.
- *[New Perspectives on Etruria and Early Rome](https://uwpress.wisc.edu/books/4425.htm)*, co-edited with Helen Nagy. (Wisconsin Studies in Classics Series). Madison: The University of Wisconsin Press, 2009.
- *[Role Models in the Roman World: Identity and Assimilation](https://press.umich.edu/Books/R/Role-Models-in-the-Roman-World)*, co-edited with Inge Lyse Hansen. (*Memoirs of the American Academy in Rome* Supplementary volume; VII). Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2008.
- *[Games and Festivals in Classical Antiquity](https://www.fulcrum.org/concern/monographs/ng451k126)*, co-edited with Glenys Davies. (BAR International Series 1220). Oxford: Archaeopress, 2004.

## References

1. ["Sinclair W. Bell Selected as Editor of Memoirs of the American Academy in Rome"](https://www.aarome.org/news/features/sinclair-w-bell-selected-editor-memoirs-american-academy-rome). *aarome.org*. 2019. Retrieved October 2, 2020.

1. ["Sinclair Bell"](https://www.niu.edu/art/about/faculty-staff/sinclair-bell.shtml). *niu.edu*. Retrieved October 2, 2020.

1. ["Art history professor Sinclair Bell selected as 'research ambassador' to Germany for 2010-11"](https://www.niutoday.info/2010/11/15/art-history-professor-sinclair-bell-selected-as-research-ambassador-to-germany-for-2010-11/). *niutoday.info*. November 15, 2010. Retrieved October 2, 2020.

1. ["Sinclair Bell named 2021 Presidential Teaching Professor"](https://niutoday.info/2021/04/14/sinclair-bell-named-2021-presidential-teaching-professor/). *niutoday.info*. April 14, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2023.

1. ["NIU art historian co-edits book that explores cultural, societal impact of freed Roman slaves"](https://www.niutoday.info/2012/02/08/niu-art-historian-co-edits-book-that-explores-cultural-societal-impact-of-freed-roman-slaves/). *niutoday.info*. February 8, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2020.

1. ["Art history professor co-edits new book on ancient Etruscans"](https://www.niutoday.info/2016/02/16/art-history-professor-co-edits-new-book-on-ancient-etruscans/). *niutoday.info*. February 16, 2016. Retrieved October 2, 2020.

1. ["Sinclair W. Bell Selected as Editor of Memoirs of the American Academy in Rome"](https://www.aarome.org/news/features/sinclair-w-bell-selected-editor-memoirs-american-academy-rome/). *aarome.org*. January 8, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2023.

1. ["NIU art historian wins Howard Fellowship"](https://www.niutoday.info/2013/04/17/niu-art-historian-wins-howard-fellowship/). *niutoday.info*. April 17, 2013. Retrieved October 2, 2020.

1. ["Colloquium with Sinclair Bell"](https://hutchinscenter.fas.harvard.edu/event/colloquium-sinclair-bell/). *hutchinscenter.fas.harvard.edu*. October 23, 2019. Retrieved December 17, 2020.

1. ["NEH Announces $33 Million for 213 Humanities Projects Nationwide"](https://www.neh.gov/news/neh-announces-33-million-213-humanities-projects-nationwide). *neh.gov*. December 16, 2020. Retrieved December 17, 2020.

1. ["Rome's chariot superstar"](https://www.smithsonianchannel.com/shows/romes-chariot-superstar). *smithsonianchannel.com*. October 12, 2020. Retrieved October 12, 2020.

1. ["18 May Ballot Results"](https://www.sal.org.uk/2023/05/18-may-ballot-results/). *www.sal.org.uk/*. May 22, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2023.

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