Naucratris , on the current site of Kôm Gaef, is an old city of the Egypt ancient, founded on the canopic branch of the the Nile (near to Know), towards -650 by Greek traders.

The city receives a particular status on behalf of the Pharaon Amasis and the authorization to build temples.

The port was under the direct control of the Pharaon who supervised this manner all the exchanges between the Greek world and Egypt.

It is by Naucratis that the Greeks bought Blé in Egypt, papyrus, flax and that they sold Céramique, Vin, Huile, money. During the time saïte, it was the vastest free Egyptian port of access the abroads.

Under Nectanébo {{Ier}} the town of Naucratis was subjugated with the tax and paid considerable sums with the Pharaonic treasure. This money was for example affected with the temple of Neith of Know.

In Naucratis there was an Egyptian district clearly separated from the Greek district and the marriages between Greeks and Egyptian women were prohibited, whereas elsewhere, the Greek mercenaries had the right to marry with Egyptian women.

After the foundation of Alexandria the commercial importance of Naucratis decreased. It accepted at the time of Alexandre Large the (-336/-323) the statute of Greek city.