Brian A. Sparkes studied at King's College London and the British School of Archaeology, Athens, and was Professor of Classical Archaeology at the University of Southampton until his retirement in 1996. He also worked for the American School of Classical Studies on the Agora excavations in Athens. He was editor of The Journal of Hellenic Studies and Archaeological Reports from 1964 to 1971, and was Honorary Secretary of the Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies from 1996 to 2005. His past academic posts include Visiting Fellow at the British School of Archaeology, Athens (1986–1987), Geddes–Harrower Visiting Professor at the University of Aberdeen (1991–1992) and First Leventis Professor at the University of Edinburgh (1998–1999). He was also President of the Joint Association of Classical Teachers from 2001 to 2003 and of the Classical Association from 2004–2005, and is an Honorary Member and a Vice-President of the Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies and a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries. He has worked in the UK, Greece and the USA.
