thumb|200px|Caryatid wearing [[peplos from the Erechtheion (British Museum). Note the blousing, or Kolpos, over the Zone.]]
thumb|Zone belt in the Russian edition of Reallexikon des classischen Alterthums
The zone ( or ; ) is a form of girdle or belt common in the ancient Eastern Mediterranean. In ancient Greece, the zone was traditionally worn by women.
In ancient Greece
Cultural significance
For ancient Greek women, the zone is used as a sign of their sexual maturity, since pre-pubescent girls do not wear them. However, younger girls do wear zones, but an unbelted version of it. Adult women who are unmarried wear a belted version of the zone which signifies their virginity. The process of the bride tying the belt's knot prior to the wedding is symbolic of her readiness for marriage. The belt is meant to be removed by their husband on their wedding night. A married woman still uses a zone, and also a belted version, though it looks different from the one used by an unmarried woman. The belts are only removed during their pregnancy and childbirth.
At the same time, female foreigners (also known as barbarians in ancient Greece) do not wear belts. The male foreigners, however, do, and this signifies their lack of manliness.