The good luck charm of the Ancient Egyptians. An oval frame with a straight stroke tangential to one end that was used by Egyptian scribes and masons to enclose the hieroglyphs of a royal name.

Originally, the Cartouche was worn only by Pharaohs or Kings of Egypt. The Pharaoh was considered a living God and his Cartouche was his insignia. The "Magical Oval" (representing infinity) in which the Pharaoh's first name was written was intended to protect him from evil spirits both while he lived and in the after-world when entombed.

In Egyptian hieroglyphs, a cartouche is an oblong enclosure with a vertical line at one end, indicating that the text enclosed is a royal name, coming into use during the beginning of the Fourth Dynasty under Pharaoh Sneferu. The Ancient Egyptian word for it was shenu, and it was essentially an expanded shen ring.

Over the past 5000 years the Cartouche has become a universal symbol of long life, good luck and protection from any evil.