It is said by Pausanias to have been originally named Arantia (Ἀραντία), after Aras, its mythical founder, and to have been called Araethyrea after Araethyrea, a daughter of Aras.
The name of its founder was retained in the time of Pausanias in the hill Arantinus, on which it stood.
[1] Araethyrea is mentioned by Homer in the Catalogue of Ships in the Iliad.
[2] We learn from Strabo that its inhabitants quitted Araethyrea, and founded Phlius, at the distance of 30 stadia from the former town.
[3] Hence the statement of the grammarians, that Araethyrea and Arantia were both ancient names of Phlius.