CANOPUS

canopus, or canobus, an ancient coast town of lower egypt, a hundred and twenty stadia, or 15 m. east of alexandria, the principal port in egypt for greek trade before the foundation of alexandria, situated at the mouth of the westernmost (canopic or heracleotic) branch of the nile, on the western bank. the channel, which entered the mediterranean at the western end of the bay of aboukir, is entirely silted up, but on the shore at aboukir there are extensive traces of the city with its quays, &c. excavation has disclosed granite monuments with the name of rameses