A cartouche is an oval shape with a rope depicted around the outside. The rope is believed to have the power to protect the writing inside the oval. Cartouches most often protected the name and title of a royal individual but could also hold a prayer for the deceased.
MATERIALS:
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2 cardboard paper towel tubes
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Glue
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2 straws
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Brown paper bag
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Tape
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Scissors
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Rubber bands
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Crayons, colored pencils, or markers
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Cartouche pattern (or create your own) and hieroglyphic alphabet chart, which can be found HERE
INSTRUCTIONS: (see illustrated instructions below!)
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Cut both cardboard tubes horizontally down the middle.
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Apply glue inside both tubes and roll them as tightly as possible, then place each one around a straw.
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Wrap both straws with rubber bands to keep them tightly wound and allow them to dry.
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While your straws are drying, draw and then color your hieroglyphic message on your cartouche. Ms. Marion chose to use the second Hieroglyphic Alphabet Chart at https://bit.ly/3bkcPOh because she likes all of the colorful symbols. Remember: Hieroglyphs are word pictures that represent the SOUNDS of the Ancient Egyptian language, so you will not need a symbol for every "letter" in your name or message. Do choose a symbol for every basic "sound" in your name or message. Optional: For younger artists, tape the Hieroglyphic Alphabet Chart underneath your cartouche and on top of a window. The light coming through the window will make it easy to trace your symbols! Cut out your cartouche when you finish your artwork.
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Cut out a large strip of brown paper from your paper bag to make the scroll. The scroll in the photo example is the same length as LASM Educator Ms. Marion's cat, Shelby!
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Now that your covered straws have had time to dry, take the rubber bands off and tape your straws to either side of your brown paper.
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Glue your cartouche onto the center of your brown paper scroll and roll it up. Show your scroll to a family member and see if they can crack the code! Can you guess Ms. Marion's secret message?
