Zunbils
Years: 600 - 870
Zunbil, also written as Zhunbil, is a dynasty south of the Hindu Kush in southern Afghanistan.
They rule from the early 7th century until the Islamic conquest of Afghanistan in 870.
The Zunbils are believed to be an offspring of the southern-Hephthalite rulers of Zabulistan and culturally connected to Greater India.
The dynasty is related to the Kabul Shahis of the northeast in Kabul.
The Zunbils worship a god named Zun (Zoon) from which they derive their name.
Their territory includes the area between what is now the city of Zaranj in southwestern Afghanistan and Kabulistan in the northeast, with Zamindawar and Ghazni serving as their capitals.
Although the rulers of the Zunbil dynasty are worshippers of the sun, many inhabitants south of the Hindu Kush practice Buddhism and other ancient religions before the Islamization of the region.
The title Zunbil can be traced back to the Middle-Persian original Zūn-dātbar, 'Zun the Justice-giver'.
The geographical name Zamindawar would also reflect this, from Middle Persian 'Zamin-i dātbar' (Land of the Justice-giver).
