The Canopus:
The Canopus is not a statue, but rather a pool at the villa of Hadrian at Tivoli. (1/13)

The pool is supposed to represent a branch of the river Nile, and has gained its name from an island in the Nile in Egypt that contained a sanctuary dedicated to Serapis, the god of the underworld, who was also worshipped by the Romans. (2/13)

The date of the pool’s construction can be inferred from the brick stamps of the pool, stating that it occurred between 123-124 AD. The pool is believed to have been surrounded by a colonnade of corinthian columns on the east, and caryatids and sileni on the west. (3/13)

The colonnade was adorned by Roman copies of famous Greek sculptures representing Ares, Athena, Hermes, and two Amazons. (4/13)

The caryatids allude to Athens; specifically the porch of Caryatids on the south side of the Erechtheion on the Acropolis, and the sileni to the sileni decorating the stage on the Theatre of Dionysus. (5/13)

The Amazons are copies of statues found in the Temple of Artemis. These sculptures date to the period of Severus’ rule, between 193-211 AD. (6/13)

The villa of Hadrian is believed to have been used occasionally by his successors, as busts of Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius, Lucius Verus, Septimius Severus, and Caracalla have been found on the site. (7/13)

The architecture of Hadrian’s Villa attempts to emulate the specific features of landscapes or structures that had personal significance for the emperor. In this case, the area has been named after the Egyptian city where Antinoos drowned. (8/13)

The design of the Canopus follows the tradition of the Romans acquiring artistic tendencies from Ancient Greece. (9/13)

Here, the Canopus is believed to have followed in the tradition of the grottos that would have decorated Hellenistic palaces, and Roman villas and private homes, much like the Grotto of Sperlonga, which contained a marble sculpture representing the blinding of Polyphemus. (10/13)

The plan, architectural design and decorations of the site are believed to evoke the original Egyptian Canopus. (11/13)

There has even been a recent interpretation that sees this Canopus as a symbolic representation of the Nile, where the statues of the Amazons represent Ephesus and the Caryatids in the West represent Athens. (12/13)

The Canopus is believed to have been used for banquets in the summer, and parties during the evening.
Submitted by @YungHumanist (13/13)