Zendaya has faced criticism after wearing earrings containing genuine ancient gold plaques, believed to date back as far as 3,000 years, at a London photocall for Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey. The Iranian artefacts were mounted with diamonds and yellow gold as luxury jewellery despite questions surrounding their original excavation and ownership history.
The Emmy-winning Euphoria and Dune actress wore the earrings on 5 July while promoting the mythological epic at IET London Savoy Place. Archaeologists subsequently questioned whether objects with an unclear archaeological record should have been repurposed for a celebrity appearance when replicas could have delivered the same look.
Ancient Plaques Remade as Luxury Earrings
Zendaya's oversized gold earrings were supplied by Barron London and featured what the jewellery house identified as Ziwiye gold medallion plaques. The discs date to the first millennium BCE and were placed in contemporary 18-carat yellow gold and diamond settings. Jewellery designer Glenn Spiro created the earrings in 2018 before Barron London acquired them in 2020.
Barron London's identification connects the pieces to Ziwiye, an area in present-day Iran associated with a disputed collection of ancient gold, silver and ivory objects.
Many pieces attributed to the so-called Ziwiye hoard entered the international art market through dealers rather than controlled archaeological excavations.
This has made it difficult for researchers to verify where individual objects were discovered and whether every item carrying the Ziwiye label belongs to the same find.
Zendaya faces backlash again after wearing 3,000-year-old Glenn Spiro earrings at 'The Odyssey' London photocall.
— 21 (@thegala21) July 14, 2026
The earrings feature authentic gold discs from the Ziwiye Treasure, dating to the 8th–7th century BCE in northwestern Iran. pic.twitter.com/XCibVaAGUu
The earrings completed a custom white Jacquemus halter gown with a dramatically exposed back and an attached headscarf. Styled by Zendaya's longtime image architect Law Roach, the outfit referenced Athena, the Greek goddess played by Zendaya in The Odyssey. Roach described the finished look as 'the essence of Athena', continuing the pair's well-known approach to method dressing during film promotion.
Archaeologist Condemns 'Black Market Antiquities'
The jewellery drew criticism after archaeologist Dr Raven Todd DaSilva discussed its provenance in an Instagram video. She opened her response by declaring, 'Black market antiquities are super uncool', before questioning the decision to present the ancient objects as red carpet accessories. She also said she hoped Zendaya would speak with her stylist so future choices avoided 'amplifying neocolonialism'.
Her criticism centred on the antiquities trade and the loss of archaeological context rather than an allegation that Zendaya personally acquired the plaques. No publicly available evidence establishes that the actress knew about disputes surrounding objects associated with Ziwiye before wearing them. Barron London has presented the pieces as part of its collection, while available descriptions do not provide a complete chain of ownership reaching back to their original discovery.
That missing context matters because an artefact's scientific value extends beyond its age or appearance. Archaeologists examine where objects were found, what surrounded them and how they were positioned to understand the people who made and used them. Once an item passes through undocumented channels, much of that information can be permanently lost even when the object itself is authentic.
The Look Revives a Wider Fashion Debate
Zendaya was not the only The Odyssey cast member to wear an ancient object at the photocall. Anne Hathaway, who plays Penelope, wore a Bulgari watch containing a Roman coin depicting Emperor Caracalla, who ruled from AD 198 to 217. The comparison highlights how historic materials continue to appear within modern high jewellery, although the documentation behind each object can differ significantly.
The controversy has therefore moved beyond whether the earrings matched the film's Ancient Greek theme. It has raised questions about who owns antiquity, how luxury brands document culturally significant materials and whether genuine archaeological objects belong on promotional red carpets. Zendaya, Roach and Barron London had not publicly addressed the archaeologist's criticism at the time of publication.
