Ancient Egypt: Create Your Cartouche

Ancient Egypt: Create Your Cartouche

Year 7 History & Visual Arts Exploring Egyptian hieroglyphs and royal symbols Hands-on art creation with historical context

What is a Cartouche?

An oval shape with a line at one end Contains hieroglyphs spelling royal names Protected the pharaoh's name for eternity Found on temples, tombs, and artifacts Symbol of divine protection and power

Cartouche vs Regular Hieroglyphs

{"left":"Royal names were sacred and needed protection\nCartouche shape represented a rope knot\nOnly pharaohs and some queens had cartouches\nShowed divine status and eternal protection","right":"Regular hieroglyphs used for everyday writing\nWritten in rows or columns on papyrus\nUsed for stories, laws, and records\nAvailable to scribes and educated people"}

Famous Pharaoh Cartouches

Art Appreciation: Egyptian Design Elements

Symmetry and balance in compositions Bold, clear outlines and flat colors Symbolic use of animals and objects Hierarchical scale showing importance Limited color palette: gold, blue, red, black

Step 1: Design Your Name in Hieroglyphs

Use the hieroglyphic alphabet chart Write your first name in pencil Choose symbols that match the sounds Practice drawing each symbol clearly Remember: hieroglyphs represent sounds, not letters

Step 2: Create Your Cartouche Shape

Draw an oval about 8cm long Add a short vertical line at one end Make the oval thick enough for your name Use a ruler for neat, straight lines This shape will protect your royal name!

Step 3: Add Your Hieroglyphic Name

Carefully draw your name symbols inside the oval Start from one end and work across Keep symbols evenly spaced Make them large enough to see clearly Add decorative details to make them special

Reflection & Extension

Support: What was challenging about creating hieroglyphs? Core: How do cartouches show the power of pharaohs? Extension: Design a cartouche for a modern leader - what symbols would you choose and why?

Celebrating Our Royal Names

Display your cartouches around the classroom Share what you learned about Egyptian culture Explain your design choices to a partner Connect to NSW History outcomes about ancient civilizations Appreciate how art preserves history across thousands of years