Hieroglyphic snakes (4)
I believe the answer is:
asps
'hieroglyphic snakes' 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 "native Africans?" , "Cleopatra's cobras" , "Pass among snakes" , "Small vipers" , "Cleopatra's snakes" .)