CANOPUS, in Pagan mythology, one of the deities of the ancient Egyptians, and, according to some, the god of water. It is said, that the Chaldeans, who worshipped fire, carried their fancied deity thro' other countries to try its power, in order that, if it obtained the victory over the other gods, it might be acknowledged as the true object of worship; and it having easily subdued the gods of wood, stone, brass, silver, and gold, its priests declared, that all gods did it homage. This the priests of Canopus hearing, and finding that the Chaldeans had brought their god to contend with Canopus, they took a large earthen vessel, in which they bored several holes, which they afterwards stopped with wax, and having filled the vessel with water, painted it of several colours, and fitting the head of an idol to it, brought it out, in order to contend with the Chaldean deity. The Chaldeans accordingly kindled their fire all around it; but the heat having melted the wax, the water gushed out thro' the holes, and extinguished the fire; and thus Canopus conquered the god of the Chaldeans.