 It rises in the hills between Palazzolo (ancient Acrae) and Giarratana, and flows at first to the south, then turns eastward, and enters the sea about south of Syracuse.Near its mouth stood the town of the same name.In the upper part of its course it is a mountain stream, flowing over a rugged and rocky bed, whence Silius Italicus calls it "undae clamosus Helorus" (xiv.