Wolfson History Prize
1 appearances
-
Edition 78 (2009) Winner
Mary Beard
メアリー・ビアード
Mearī Biādo
Aliases:
Winifred Mary Beard / Dame Mary Beard / Dame Winifred Mary Beard
Profile
- Gender
- Female
- Born
- 1955-01-01 （Much Wenlock, Shropshire）
- Nationality
- British, English
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Shropshire → Cambridge
Career
- Occupations
- Classicist, Professor, Author, Television presenter
- Active Years
- 1979-
- Affiliations
- Newnham College, Cambridge, Royal Academy of Arts, British Museum
- Memberships
- Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London (FSA), Fellow of the British Academy (FBA), Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature (FRSL)
- Influenced By
- Joyce Reynolds, Frank McEachran
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shrewsbury High School | — | — | — | — | England |
| Newnham College, University of Cambridge | Classics | Classics | PhD | 1973-1982 | United Kingdom |
Shrewsbury High School
Country:
England
Newnham College, University of Cambridge
Classics
/ Classics
Degree:
PhD
Period:
1973-1982
Year of Graduation:
1982
Country:
United Kingdom
Thesis: The state religion in the late Roman Republic: a study based on the works of Cicero
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Wolfson History Prize | Pompeii: The Life of a Roman Town | — | Wolfson Foundation | Winner |
| 2013 | Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) | — | — | British monarchy | Recipient |
| 2016 | Bodley Medal | — | — | Bodleian Libraries | Recipient |
| 2016 | Princess of Asturias Award for Social Sciences | — | Social Sciences | Princess of Asturias Foundation | Winner |
| 2018 | Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) | — | — | British monarchy | Recipient |
Wolfson History Prize
2009
Work:
Pompeii: The Life of a Roman Town
Organization:
Wolfson Foundation
Result:
Winner
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
2013
Organization:
British monarchy
Result:
Recipient
Bodley Medal
2016
Organization:
Bodleian Libraries
Result:
Recipient
Princess of Asturias Award for Social Sciences
2016
Category:
Social Sciences
Organization:
Princess of Asturias Foundation
Result:
Winner
Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE)
2018
Organization:
British monarchy
Result:
Recipient
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
The Roman Triumph
2007 HistoryA study of the Roman triumph ceremony.
Roman ritualsSymbols of power
Pompeii: The Life of a Roman Town
2008 History 352 pagesLife in Pompeii before the eruption of Vesuvius.
Daily lifeArchaeology
SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome
2015 History 608 pagesHistory of ancient Rome from foundation to the age of Augustus.
Roman RepublicOrigins of democracyEmpire formation
Emperor of Rome: Ruling the Ancient Roman World
2023 HistoryExplores the ruling style of Roman emperors.
Imperial powerRoman Empire
Bibliography
- Rome in the Late Republic
- The Good Working Mother's Guide
- Pagan Priests: Religion and Power in the Ancient World
- Classics: A Very Short Introduction
- Religions of Rome
- The Invention of Jane Harrison
- Classical Art from Greece to Rome
- The Parthenon
- The Colosseum
- The Roman Triumph
- Pompeii: The Life of a Roman Town
- It's a Don's Life
- All in a Don's Day
- Confronting the Classics
- Laughter in Ancient Rome
- SPQR: A History of Ancient Rome
- Women & Power: A Manifesto
- Civilisations: How Do We Look / The Eye of Faith
- Twelve Caesars
- Emperor of Rome
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Learned but accessibleContextual reading of sourcesModern reinterpretations
- Recurring Motifs
- Power structures in ancient RomeWomen's public voiceLaughter and culture
Legacy
Renowned classicist who has popularized ancient Rome through accessible books and TV, bridging academia and public, noted for feminism and social commentary.
Academic Societies
- British Academy
- Royal Society of Literature
In Popular Culture
- In 2018, an unofficial Lego minifigure of her was created by a fan.
Trivia
- Blog 'A Don's Life' receives 40,000 hits daily
- Active on Twitter (X), faced significant online abuse
- Appointed ambassador for National Trust in 2025