Cartouche

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/cartouche

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the archaeological utility?Crucial for dating tombs and artifacts by identifying the ruling pharaoh
2. Why does a cartouche look like an oval?The oval shape comes from the ancient 'shen' ring, which means eternity and wholeness, and it helps keep the name safe.
3. How did the cartouche protect pharaohs?By enclosing the pharaoh's name inside the oval, it was believed to shield the name from bad spirits and help the pharaoh travel safely to the afterlife.

Royal Titulary: The set of five names or titles used to refer to an ancient Egyptian pharaoh.
Iconography: The study and interpretation of visual images and symbols in art and culture.
Demotic Script: A later cursive form of ancient Egyptian writing, used for everyday purposes.