The mysterious “three-lobed” disk is currently on display at the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. It is made of stone and is at least 5,000 years old.
This enigmatic disk is often referred to as the “Three-Lobed Disk of Egypt” or “Sabu Disk.” It is an ancient artifact from ancient Egypt, discovered in the Tomb of Prince Sabu, a governor of the First Dynasty and the son of Pharaoh Anedjib.
The Sabu Disk consists of three curved lobes converging at the center, unlike any other artifact found in Egypt to date. It was discovered at the Saqqara Necropolis, the largest burial site in Egypt built during ancient times.
The tomb of Prince Sabu is estimated to date back to around 3,000 BC during the early period of ancient Egyptian history. This makes the disk at least 5,000 years old!
This enigmatic disk is often referred to as the “Sabu Disk.”
Archaeologists believe that the tools used during that time were made of stone and copper, making the high precision of the Sabu Disk and its construction from fragile materials like schist quite remarkable. This is just one reason why the Sabu Disk has captivated scientists and others alike.
Over the years, many theories have been proposed regarding the function of this object. Initially, the disk was considered to be a vase, a censer, or simply a decorative item. However, this has sparked considerable debate within the archaeological and historical communities.
The disk’s high precision and fragile material like schist is quite remarkable.
Discovered by the famous archaeologist Walter B. Emery on January 10, 1936, this mysterious disk is circular, with a diameter of approximately 610 mm and a height of about 106 mm.
It is crafted from schist, a term previously used by archaeologists to refer to metasiltstone. This type of metamorphic sandstone is less prone to cracking during the carving process than its parent rock.
However, the disk exhibits a very high level of craftsmanship, indicating it must have been made by a skilled artisan. Throughout Egyptian history, there are numerous examples of vessels and other artifacts featuring complex hieroglyphics carved from schist, suggesting that this was likely a common material in the past.
Metasiltstone is a type of metamorphic sandstone that is less prone to cracking during the carving process. (Illustrative image).
In addition to the theories mentioned above, more widely accepted “mainstream” hypotheses include: It is a mixing tool for combining grains, meat, and water, possibly even fruits. However, it could also be a component of an ancient water pump.
As Adam Henessy pointed out, it is challenging to prove or disprove this, although using it as a water pump or mixing tool over time might be a challenge due to the fragile nature of the stone.
Nevertheless, there are certainly some striking similarities between the Sabu Disk and modern pump blades, as illustrated below.
The Sabu Disk resembles modern pump blades.
Accordingly, an amateur historian created a replica of the Sabu Disk using a 3D printer to support his theory. He suggested that the Sabu Disk may indeed be an “ancient blade,” a component of a centrifugal pump.
When placed in a casing and pushed at high speed through its central axis, the disk proves to be highly effective in pumping water. Additionally, when spinning without a casing to direct water, the disk creates a strong vortex.
These experiments may suggest that the unique folded lobes and slightly concave shape of the disk were certainly designed for a specific purpose.
However, whether they are indeed related to water remains unclear. Some believe that these strange shapes are part of something entirely different—akin to more advanced technologies.
The description of the Sabu Disk only appears in a relief dating back to 1500 BC.
However, the description of the Sabu Disk recorded in Egypt only appears in a relief from 1500 BC, around the time of the Hyksos invasion in 1640 BC.
In the timeline of history, this is also the period when humans began using the wheel, making the Sabu Disk a potentially revolutionary discovery. However, the fragile schist material used for the disk would not withstand the forces exerted like a wheel. Therefore, it is certainly not a wheel.
There is a theory that the Sabu Disk may have been used in beer production.
According to a recent study backed by more scientific evidence, archaeologist Akio Kato, who has extensively researched the history and archaeology of ancient Egypt, suggested that the Sabu Disk may have been used in beer production. It could serve as a grinding rake to mix and homogenize the grain-water mixture.
Kato pointed to two observations supporting this idea. First, the burial chamber of Prince Sabu contained items including stone or ceramic jars, flint or copper tools, ivory boxes, the bones of two cattle, and arrows—most of which were related to “food” for the afterlife of Prince Sabu.
Therefore, it is natural to propose that the Sabu Disk was a tool for beer production, which was regarded as “food” for the ancient Egyptians, as important as bread and an essential supply for the afterlife.
The Sabu Disk can move up and down smoothly when placed in water.
Secondly, the gray color of the disk works quite well in distinguishing it from brown shells. The disk was created at the beginning of the Bronze Age, and the metals used during that time were copper or bronze. If it were made of copper or bronze, it would have a brown color, making it difficult to assess quality.
The study also explains the effectiveness of the three lobes on the disk, allowing for smooth mixing of grains with hot water without creating any swirls or bubbles, ensuring a homogeneous grinding process with evenly distributed temperatures.
Another fact that seems to support Kato’s position is that the Sabu Disk can move up and down smoothly when placed in water. A small force can generate a water flow, which in turn helps the disk move.
Thus, the Sabu Disk may have been used in large beer vats, as part of the oldest known public brewery discovered at the Royal Abydos burial site, dating back to around 3,000 BC.
