Zendaya’s Ancient Iranian Earrings Ignite Cultural Debate at ‘Odyssey’ Promo Tour

The film “Odyssey” tells the tale of a Greek king’s long voyage home. However, a pair of earrings worn by Zendaya during the movie’s press tour has ignited a controversy, given their ancient origins and cultural significance.

At a London photocall, Zendaya, who portrays the goddess Athena in Christopher Nolan’s adaptation, accessorised with earrings crafted from Iranian artefacts dating back to 700 BC.

Critics, including archaeologists, have condemned the use of these culturally important pieces as fashion accessories for a Hollywood promotional event, likening it to a cultural “hijacking” of Iran’s heritage.

The earrings are stocked by Barron London, a Mayfair gallery that markets itself as dealing in significant historical pieces. Its website notes that it works discreetly with collectors and institutions to locate and place important objects.

According to Barron’s statement, the items were purchased from fellow London jeweller Glenn Spiro in 2025. They are identified as part of the Ziwiye hoard, unearthed in north‑western Iran in the late 1940s.

The hoard, a collection of gold, silver, bronze and terracotta artefacts discovered in 1947, was subsequently looted. A 2015 academic paper records that surviving pieces entered antique markets outside Iran in the 1960s and are now dispersed across museums and private collections.

Professor Sussan Babaie, an Iranian‑born art historian at the Courtauld Institute, called the incident “shocking” and noted the lack of cultural awareness among those who style celebrities. She said it reflects a broader failure to respect the spiritual and historical meaning of such objects.

The controversy fits into a larger debate about Western institutions holding ancient artefacts. The British Museum, for example, faces ongoing criticism over its collection of Benin bronzes, Ethiopian altar tablets and Parthenon marbles.

A reference point is Kim Kardashian’s 2022 Met Gala dress, once owned by Marilyn Monroe. Scott Fortner, a Monroe‑era collector, warned that acquiring such historic items demands a pledge to protect them, a promise he felt had been broken. The dress’s owners denied any damage.

Dr Annelise Baer, an archaeologist and film producer, said the primary ethical concern was that the earrings were fashioned from looted antiquities. She noted that while Zendaya’s wearing of them is a secondary issue, the high‑profile nature of the event amplified public scrutiny of cultural appropriation.

Barron’s statement asserts that the earrings are responsibly managed, in compliance with documented provenance and all relevant legal requirements.

Babaie emphasised that the jewellery likely carries profound spiritual significance and should not be treated as mere decorative accessories. “These are world heritage objects, not fashion statements,” she said.

She argued that the display strips the pieces of their meaning, amounting to a “hijacking, flattening and transformation” of ancient Iranian cultural contributions.

The timing has intensified outrage. Babaie pointed out the paradox of glamourising Iranian antiquities in a film press tour while billions of dollars in U.S. weapons are being used to bomb Iran, threatening its cultural sites.

In a further statement, Barron said the loan was intended to celebrate the artistry of ancient Persian goldsmiths and to broaden appreciation of Persia’s artistic legacy, especially at a time when Iran is often viewed solely through a political lens.

The production of “Odyssey” has also faced criticism over its filming location. Sahrawi filmmakers are calling for a boycott of the movie because it uses the city of Dakhla in the occupied Western Sahara, an area referred to as “Africa’s last colony.”

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