Zendaya, who portrays the Greek goddess Athena in Christopher Nolan’s IMAX adaptation of the ancient epic, faced public criticism after appearing at a London photocall wearing ancient gold artifacts.
The jewelry, described as 3,000‑year‑old Iranian gold medallions, was sourced from a West End dealer and remounted with diamonds and 18‑karat gold by a London jeweler as part of a series titled “Materials of the Old World.”
Critics argue the pieces may have entered the market through illicit channels, raising concerns about the appropriation of cultural heritage.
An online archaeologist known as Dr. Z condemned the earrings in a July 13 Instagram post, suggesting they were likely looted from Iran and that their display on an American actress served to fetishize the past.
Dr. Z also questioned why authentic artifacts were used instead of replicas, describing the choice as a form of elitist class signaling that fuels the antiquities black market.
The medallions are linked to the Ziwiye hoard, a collection of artifacts originally uncovered near Ziwiyeh Castle and reportedly looted by shepherds in 1947 before being smuggled abroad.
Scholars note that items from the hoard now reside in major museums and private collections, yet many lack documented provenance, making their exact origins uncertain.
Historical analysis highlights the complex debate surrounding Ziwiye artifacts, emphasizing that the term “Ziwiye” can refer to a location, an artistic style, or a disputed attribution, and that many pieces entered the market without proper archaeological excavation.
Despite the controversy, the film has achieved significant commercial success, earning $264 million in its opening week and maintaining a 95 percent rating on a leading movie‑review platform.
