The cartouche is an ancient Egyptian design symbolizing eternity and often enclosing a sun, used to display royal names. Today, personalized cartouches can be purchased as jewelry, handcrafted in Egypt, and range in price from $30 to over $100 USD.
A cartouche is an ancient Egyptian design, initially known as a shen. The shen or cartouche, dating back to around 5,000 years old, is a hieroglyphic cord wound and tied at the bottom, forming a closed circle. The encircling rope symbolizes eternity with no beginning or end, often enclosing a sun, indicating the king’s dominion over the cosmos. The shen is seen in many ancient Egyptian artifacts, often caught in the claws of various avian deities, hovering protectively over a ruling king.
Towards the end of the Third Dynasty, (about 3 BC) Huni used a cartouche to enclose his sovereign name. Over time the cartouche lengthened vertically to contain the cuneiform glyphs of the longer royal names. A double cartouche was sometimes used to display the royal name alongside the given or birth name. The Egyptians believed that writing a name was important, otherwise the soul risked being lost after death. This may explain why the cartouche appears on many royal sarcophagi.
The cartouche was such a powerful symbol that Tuthmosis III (1504 BC – 1450 BC) dictated that his entire burial chamber, as discovered in the Valley of the Kings, be cartouche-shaped, along with his sarcophagus. Temple inscriptions from the Greco-Roman period also show the cartouche with the names of deities, such as Osiris and Isis.
Today, anyone can enjoy the royal blessing of a cartouche personalized with their name in hieroglyphics. A cartouche can be hung on a necklace, bracelet, or can be purchased as earrings. Custom cartouches come in many styles in both gold and silver.
Some websites that sell cartouches translate the names into hieroglyphs so the customer can see what it will look like in the glyphs before ordering. Long names may need to be shortened, as most cartouches are limited to about six glyphs. A short name, such as “Jan” or “Bob” can be augmented with an ankh or other symbol.
A personalized cartouche can be a unique and interesting gift, carrying with it a royal and rich history. Many online retailers boast that their cartouches are handcrafted in Egypt. Prices range from around $30 US Dollars (USD) to over $100 USD, so there’s something for every budget. If ordering a personalized cartouche please ensure the name is spelled correctly when ordering as bespoke jewelery may not be returnable.
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