The lofty Aroanian Mountains formed the northeast boundary of the territory of Cleitor, separating it from that of Pheneus.
In these mountains the river Aroanius (the modern Phoniatiko)[4] rises, which flowed through the territory of Cleitor from north to south, and falls into the Ladon near the sources of the latter.
In the upper plain, was situated Lusi, at one time an independent town, but at a later period a dependency of Cleitor.
[7][8] A little north of the junction of the river Cleitor with the Aroanius, the remains of a small Doric temple were discovered.
[10] The Cleitorians were renowned among the Peloponnesians for their love of liberty (τὸ Κλειτορίων φιλελεύθερον καὶ γενναῖον), of which an instance is cited even from the mythical times, in the brave resistance they offered to Sous, king of Sparta.
In commemoration of these conquests they dedicated at Olympia a brazen statue of Zeus, 18 feet (5.5 m) in height, which was extant in the time of Pausanias, who has preserved the inscription upon it.
[14] In the Social War it belonged to the Achaean League, and in 220 BC it bravely repelled the assaults of the Aetolians, who attempted to scale the walls.
[21][19] A spring of water, gushing forth from the hill on which the ruins stand, is usually supposed to be this miraculous fountain; but Ernst Curtius places it in the territory of Lusi, because it is said to have been situated upon the confines of the Cleitoria, and is mentioned in connection with the purification of the daughters of Proetus by Melampus, which is said to have taken place at Lusi.
Pausanias relates that he had seen these fish caught; but that he had never heard them sing, although he had remained for that purpose on the banks of the river till sunset, when they were supposed to be most vocal.
The former writer cites three authorities in proof of their existence, of whom Philostephanos placed them on the Ladon, Mnaseas in the Cleitor, and the Peripatetic Clearchus in the Pheneatic Aroanius.
But the space enclosed by these walls seems to have been properly the acropolis of the ancient city, since the whole plain was discovered to be covered with stones and pottery, mixed with quadrangular blocks and remains of columns.