Zendaya Sparks Debate with Ancient Gold Earrings at The Odyssey Photocall
Zendaya's Unique Accessory Choice
Zendaya has recently become a topic of discussion, not for her attire but for her striking jewellery, during a photocall in London for Christopher Nolan's film, The Odyssey. She adorned herself with earrings crafted from ancient gold artifacts.
These earrings feature a pair of gold discs, identified by dealer Barron London as 'Ziwiye gold medallion plaques' dating back to the 1st millennium BC from Iran. Jeweller Glenn Spiro set these pieces with diamonds in 18-carat yellow gold. The design was created by Spiro in 2018, and Barron London acquired the earrings in 2020. The Mayfair dealer notes that these earrings are not available for purchase and are part of their private collection, designed with a claw setting to preserve the integrity of the original artifacts.
The discs are thought to be associated with the Ziwiye hoard, discovered in 1947 near Saqqez in Iran's Kurdistan region, where locals found a coffin filled with gold, silver, and ivory treasures. Due to the lack of professional excavation, many items were dismantled and sold separately, leaving surviving pieces scattered across renowned institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Louvre, and the British Museum.
Reactions to Zendaya's choice have been mixed. While some fashion enthusiasts lauded the historic and bold styling, deeming it one of her standout red carpet appearances, others expressed discomfort at the idea of wearing genuine ancient artifacts as fashion statements, questioning if such historically significant items should be showcased on the red carpet instead of being preserved in museums.
Although Zendaya, who portrays Athena in the film, has not commented on the ongoing debate, this incident has drawn parallels to previous fashion controversies, such as Margot Robbie's Taj Mahal diamond necklace and Kim Kardashian's Marilyn Monroe gown, both of which ignited discussions about the appropriateness of wearing historical pieces at high-profile events.
The Odyssey is currently playing in theaters.