'Sistan' () is a border region, southeastern
Iran and southwestern
Afghanistan. One portion is part of the
Iranian province of
Sistan and Baluchestan. The other portion is part of the
Nimruz Province of
Afghanistan.
Sistan derives its name from '
Sakastan', which Sistan was once the westernmost part of. The
Sakas that were once native to Sistan were driven to the
Punjab during the
Arsacid era (63 BCE-220 CE). The
Saffarids (861-1003 CE), one of the early Iranian dynasties of the Islamic era, were originally rulers of Sistan.
In the
Shahnameh, Sistan is also referred to as
Zabulistan, after
Zabol, a city in the region. In Ferdowsi's epic,
Zabulistan is in turn described to be the homeland of the mythological hero-king
Rostam.
Sistan has a very strong connection with
Zoroastrianism and during Sassanid times
Lake Hamun was one of two pilgrimage sites for followers of that religion. In Zoroastrian tradition, the lake is the keeper of
Zoroaster's seed and just before the final renovation of the world, three maidens will enter the lake, each then giving birth to the ''
saoshyans'' who will be the saviours of mankind at the final renovation of the world.
The most famous archaeological site in Sistan is on
Kuh-e Khwajeh, a hill rising up as an island in the middle of Lake Hamun.
Reference
★
Britannica