Hieroglyphic creatures (4)
I believe the answer is:
asps
'hieroglyphic creatures' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for asps that I've seen before include "Deadly snakes" , "poisonous things" , "Cleopatra's cobras" , "Egyptian cobras" , "because of their venom?" .)