History of the star: A white star in the throat of the Lesser Dog, Canis Minor. Gomeisa or Al-Ghumaisa' (1), "The bleary-eyed one", "The Weeping One", or "The Wateried Eyed". [from the Arabic story connected with Suhail (Canopus) and his marriage to Al Jauzah (Orion who in this story was a woman) and subsequent flight, followed by Al Shi'ra (Canis Major) below the Milky Way, where she remained. The other sister, Al Ghumaisa (this figure - Canis minor), being left in tears in her accustomed place. Thus the Two Dog-stars/constellations were the Arabs' Al Aliawat al Suhail, the Sisters of Canopus].

Al Jummaiza another spelling, is also translated "Sycamine" (A tree mentioned in the New Testament, thought to be a species of mulberry - AHD. This constellation has also been called Morus the genus name for mulberry).

Algomeyla, Gomelza, Algomeiza, Algomisa, Algomiza, Algomeysa, Algomyso, Alchamizo, etc. Al Gamus "the Puppy", from another of the Arabians' titles for the whole constellation.

Combined with beta Canis Majoris (Mirzam), it was Al Murzim, "the Anouncer" announcing the rising of Sirius; in the plural Al Mirzamani, or as Al Mirzama al Shi'rayain, the two Sirian Announcers [Many radio and TV announcers are influenced by these stars].

The Arabs utilized this, with Procyon, to mark the terminal points of their short Cubit, or Ell, Al Dhira, their long Cubit being the line between Castor and Pollux of Gemini. This same word appears in the title of one of the moon stations in that constellation.

Beta has some close companions of the 10th and 12th magnitudes.

Zeta, theta, omicron, and pi were the Chinese Shwuy Wei, "a Place of Water", a designation that may have been given them from their nearness to the River of Heaven, the Milky Way Galaxy.

The Euphratean title the Kakkab Paldara, Pallika, or Palura the "Star of the Crossing of the Water-dog", is said to be for the star Procyon.

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

The astrological influences of the constellation: Ptolemy gives no information as to the influence of the constellation itself but merely describes that of its chief star Procyon. By other authors however, it is said to cause frivolity and either love of dogs or danger of dog-bites. It is noteworthy that the ideas of water and drowning seem to be universally associated with this constellation. In addition to the Greek ideas embodied in the legends its Euphratean name was the Water Dog, and its Chinese equivalent Nan Ho, the Southern River, certain of the stars being called Shwuy Wei, a Place of Water. Together with Canis Major this constellation is associated by the Kabalists with the Hebrew letter Tzaddi and the 18^th Tarot Trump, "The Moon". (Fixed Stars and Constellations in Astrology , Vivian E. Robson, 1923)

This constellation was known to the Greeks as Prokuon and to Latins as Procyon (which is the name of the alpha star Procyon) The astrological influences of the constellation given by Manilius:

"Procyon rises at the moment when Cancer's twenty-seventh degree ascends from the waves to the stars. He bestows upon those born under him not hunting, but its weapons. To rear keen scented whelps and to tell their class by their pedigree, their qualities by their place of origin; to produce nets and hunting-spears tipped with strong points, and pliant shafts with knots smoothed out and to manufacture and sell at a profit whatever the art of hunting is likely to require: these are the gifts Procyon will bestow" [Manilius, Astronomica, 1st century AD, book 5, 317.] 

Announcers: Mirzam (beta Canis Major) and this star Gomeisa (beta Canis Minor) were "The Announcers" of the coming of Sirius (Allen, p.129) because they rose before Sirius, similar to a barking dog who announces the arrival of visitors, or brings something to people's attention: Many radio and TV announcers are influenced by either of these two stars (birth-charts from the AstroDataBank program).

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