History of the star: A white binary star in the oars of the ship Argo, alpha Carina is the lucida star in the constellation of Argo, the Great Ship, and the second biggest star in the sky; after Sirius which it closely aligns with by longitude (Canopus is now 14Cancer57 and Sirius 14Cancer04, but they are separated by 36 degrees in ecliptic latitude). Canopus is not visible to anyone living above latitude 37 degrees north of the northern hemisphere. 

Allusions to Canopus in every age indicate that everywhere it was an important star, especially in the Desert where it was known as the "Ship Of The Desert". There it was a great favorite, giving rise to many of the proverbs of the Arabs, their stories and superstitions and supposed to impart the much prized color to their precious stones, and immunity from disease. It is a major navigational star and known as the "Lighthouse Of The Universe" and in a general way it served as a southern pole-star; a guiding star. It is used by NASA as a marker for setting space-flight coordinates. Spacecraft carry devices called 'Canopus star trackers'. Posidonius of Alexandria, about the middle of the 3rd century before Christ, utilized Canopus in his attempt to measure a degree on the earth's surface.

Its name, which originates from the Coptic or Egyptian Kahi Nub, means 'Golden Earth', comes from story relating to the chief pilot of the fleet of Menelaus, who, on his return from the destruction of Troy, 1183 B.C., touched at Egypt, where, twelve miles to the northeastward from Alexandria, Canopus died suddenly of snakebite and was honored by a monument raised by his grateful master, Menelaus, who with his wife Helen of Troy, buried him and built a tomb on the island of Canope. A city was also founded and named after him. That ancient city was located east of Alexandria in Northern Egypt. It was the site of a great temple honoring Serapis. Ancient Canopus is now in ruins, but its site is occupied by the village of Al Bekir, or Aboukir, famous from Lord Nelson's Battle of the Nile, August 1, 1798, and from Napoleon's Victory over the Turks a year afterwards; it was here, from the terraced walls of the Serapeum, the temple of Serapis, that Ptolemy made his observations. 

Canopus was called Ptolemaeon and Ptolemaeus, in honor of Egypt's great king Ptolemy Lagos; and at times it has been Subilon. It was known as the symbol of Khons, or Khonsu, the first southern star-god; the temple of Khons at Thebes, built by Rameses III about 1300 B.C.

An Egyptian priestly poet wrote of it as Karhana, "the star Which pours his light in a glance of fire, When he disperses the morning dew"; and this still was seen a millennium later in the Kabarnit.

Another tradition claims that Canopus was the pilot of Osirius. He is also said to have steered the Argo.

The Arabs knew Canopus as, Suhail, or Suhel, the "Plain". This word also was a personal title in Arabia, the symbol of what is brilliant, glorious, and beautiful, and applied to a handsome person. Among the Persians Suhail is a synonym of wisdom, seen in the well-known Al Anwar i Suhaili, the Lights of Canopus and referred to wise thought, the brilliance of the mind... 

Suhel ponderosus, Sihil ponderosa, a translation of Al Suhail al Wazn, Subhel; Arabs' Al Suhail al Yamaniyyah, the "Suhail of the South", [perhaps an allusion to the old story, that Suhail (this star, Canopus), was formerly located near Orion's stars, (which in this story was the feminine Al Jauzah), Suhail had to flee to the south after his marriage to her, where he still remains. Others said that Suhail only went a-wooing of Al Jauzah, who not only refused him, but very unceremoniously kicked him to the southern heavens.] Canobus; or Kanupns as an Arabian adaptation of the Greek Canopus.

Another occasional early title was Al Pahi, the Camel Stallion. 

The Greeks called it the "Rudder", Cicero's Gubernaculum, Aratos writing: "The slackened rudder has been placed beneath The hind-feet of the Dog." Ancient ships had a rudder on each side of the stem, in one of which our star generally was figured, thus differing from the modern maps that locate it in the bank of oars.

Moore alluding to it, in a poem, as the cause of the unfailing cheerfulness of the Zingians [The inhabitants of Zinge, a village in Kurdistan].

The Hindus called it Agastya, one of their Rishis, or inspired sages, — and helmsman of their Argha, (our Argo) — a son of Varuna, the goddess of the waters. In the Aresta it is mentioned as "pushing the waters forward" — governing the tides(?).

Since the 6th century it has been the Star of Saint Catharine, appearing to the Greek and Russian pilgrim devotees as they approached her convent and shrine at Sinai, on their way from Gaza, their landing-place.

Fomalhaut with Achernar and Canopus made up Dante's Tre Facelle.

[Star Names, Their Lore and Meaning, Richard Hinchley Allen, 1889]. 

Canopus has been noted several times in the nativities of writers and film actors and especially of those persons who, in our times, have had to undertake many journeys in connection with their position. (Fixed Stars and Their Interpretation, Elsbeth Ebertin, 1923)

If rising: Canopus on the Ascendant is supposed to give a love of travel and also to instigate fights and quarrels resulting in lawsuits; the native however can channel these tendencies constructively, with astuteness and a sense of real earnestness. (Ebertin).

If culminating: Great glory, fame and wealth, dignity and authority by the help of an old clergy man or influential person. (Robson*).

With Sun: Domestic affliction, trouble with father or parents, financial loss, danger of accidents, burns and fevers, unfavorable end to life. (Robson*).

With Moon: Success in martial matters as a soldier, metal worker, etc. (Robson*).

With Mercury: Rash, headstrong, stubborn, kindhearted, speaker or writer on unpopular subjects incurring criticism; trouble and loss through domestic matters, partners and law. (Robson*).

With Venus: Emotional, sensitive, stubborn, strong passions, scandal through an intrigue by which reputation will suffer, public disgrace, bad for gain. (Robson*).

With Mars: Cruel, bad-tempered, envious, jealous. (Robson*).

With Jupiter: Great pride, religion used for business ends, voyages, honor and preferment but reversal through public dissatisfaction. (Robson*).

With Saturn: Discontented, occult interests, unfavorable for reputation and domestic matters, little prominence but may do good. (Robson*).

With Uranus: Materialistic, dishonorable, many difficulties, easily influenced, estranged from relatives and friends, trouble through enemies and opposite sex, domestic disharmony, violent and possibly public death. (Robson*).

With Neptune: Aggressive, materialistic, strong mind and body, loss through quarrels, speculation and friends, ideas or inventions often stolen, peculiar events throughout life, unexpected losses and gains, disharmony with father in earlier life, liable to accidents, sudden death. (Robson*).

References

*(Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology , Vivian E. Robson, 1923)