One way to learn about Ancient Egyptian culture is by studying its antiquity, jewelry and customs. One popular custom of this ancient society was the making of the cartouche. A cartouche is a kind of nameplate. Ancient Egyptians used cartouches for kings, queens, and other high-ranking people in the kingdom. A cartouche consists of a number of different hieroglyphic symbols enclosed in a loop. A cartouche was meant to protect against evil spirits both in this life and the afterlife.
Learn how to make your own cartouche from “The Unlikely Homeschool.”
You will need the following:
- Wax paper
- Oven-bake craft clay
- Craft string/twine
- A pencil or clay awl
- A butter knife or toothpick
Cover your work surface with wax paper. Roll a one inch square of oven-bake craft clay into a snake shape.
Using your finger, flatten the “snake” and then flip the flattened oval over to the smooth side.
Use the tip of a pencil or a clay awl to make a hole at one end of the oval.
Using a toothpick or the tip of a butter knife, recreate the hieroglyphs of each letter of your name.
Follow the baking instructions indicated on the clay package.
Tie some craft twine through the hole to complete the necklace.
Check out Baidun’s Egyptian collection of art and antiquity, here!
Frequently Asked Questions
A cartouche is a nameplate used in Ancient Egypt, typically for kings, queens, and high-ranking individuals. It consists of hieroglyphic symbols enclosed in an oval loop and was believed to protect the wearer from evil spirits in both life and the afterlife.
To make your own cartouche, you will need wax paper, oven-bake craft clay, craft string or twine, a pencil or clay awl, and a butter knife or toothpick for carving the hieroglyphs.
Start by rolling a one-inch square of oven-bake craft clay into a snake shape. Then flatten it with your finger into an oval shape and flip it over to smooth the surface before carving hieroglyphs.
Use a toothpick or the tip of a butter knife to carefully carve the hieroglyphic symbols representing each letter of your name into the flattened clay before baking.
A hole is made at one end of the clay oval using a pencil or clay awl so that craft twine can be threaded through it, allowing the cartouche to be worn as a necklace.
After carving the hieroglyphs, bake the clay according to the package instructions. Once cooled, tie craft twine through the hole to complete the necklace, making it wearable.
You can explore Baidun's Egyptian collection of art and antiquity by visiting their website, which offers a variety of items related to Ancient Egyptian civilization.