RELEASED: Jan. 31, 2002

DANVILLE, KY-Professor Thomas McCollough of Centre College has been awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship to conduct research this year at the Albright Institute for Archaeological Research in Jerusalem, Israel.

McCollough, who teaches religion at the College, will complete a book on the Roman theater at Sepphoris, where he will begin his research this summer and will continue in residence there in the fall. He is the associate director and field supervisor for the archeological team that was responsible for the excavation of this theater.
This First Century theater was built during the reign of Herod Antipas in the city of Sepphoris, which is five miles north of Nazareth. It's possible that this 5,000-seat theater once hosted Jesus.

"It would have been natural for Jesus to have been in Sepphoris given its proximity to Nazareth, and his use of the term 'hypocrite' (the Greek word for actor) suggests a familiarity with the theater," McCollough said.

His book will be the first full publication on this theater. While in Israel, he will also complete the editing of a book entitled "The Archaeology of Difference: Gender, Ethnicity, Class and The 'Other' in Antiquity, Studies in Honor of Eric M. Meyers."

Since 1985, Centre students have assisted McCollough each summer in the excavation of Sepphoris. There are now more than 75 Centre "alumni" of the excavations. In 1992 and 1993, he and his students were part of a team that uncovered rare amulets at Sepphoris that are estimated to be around 2,000 years old.

McCollough has also been elected vice president for the American Schools of Oriental Research in the southeastern region. He will serve in this capacity for 2002-03, and then serve as President for 2003-04.

McCollough has taught at Centre since 1980.

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