The oval name plate attached to a coffin in ancient Egypt is called a cartouche.
Understanding the Ancient Egyptian Cartouche
A cartouche is a distinctive ancient Egyptian hieroglyphic name plate. It is easily recognizable by its elongated oval shape, which typically features a horizontal bar at its base. Within this oval, the names of royalty, particularly pharaohs and queens, were meticulously inscribed using hieroglyphs.
This unique symbol served as a crucial identifier, essentially acting as a protective enclosure for the sacred royal name. The oval shape was believed to represent a loop of rope, symbolizing the king's dominion over everything encircled by the sun, or eternity, thus offering protection to the name contained within.
Key Characteristics of a Cartouche
Cartouches were fundamental elements in ancient Egyptian art and architecture. Here are their defining features:
- Shape: Always an elongated oval, resembling a loop of rope tied at one end.
- Base: A horizontal line or bar typically found at the bottom, indicating that the enclosed text is a royal name.
- Content: Primarily contained the birth name (nomen) or throne name (prenomen) of a pharaoh or queen, written in hieroglyphics.
- Purpose: Served to identify and protect the royal name, distinguishing it from other texts and ensuring its eternal preservation in life and the afterlife.
The Cartouche's Role in Royal Burials and Beyond
While the question specifically mentions coffins, cartouches were prominently featured on various artifacts and structures associated with royalty and their eternal resting places. Their presence on a royal coffin or sarcophagus was paramount, ensuring the deceased's identity was preserved for the journey to the afterlife.
You would find cartouches inscribed on:
- Coffins and Sarcophagi: Marking the royal occupant to ensure their identity in the afterlife.
- Tomb Walls: Identifying the pharaoh buried within and listing their various titles and divine connections.
- Temples and Monuments: Commemorating the pharaoh's reign, achievements, and divine legitimacy.
- Statues and Amulets: Bestowing protection and associating the item with royal power and prestige.
The enduring presence of cartouches across countless ancient Egyptian relics has allowed modern Egyptologists to identify and categorize the long lineage of pharaohs, providing an invaluable record of one of history's most fascinating civilizations.
For further information on Egyptian hieroglyphs and royal names, consider exploring resources like the British Museum's collection or educational platforms dedicated to ancient history.
[[Egyptian Symbols]]
