Leontini was founded in 729 from Naxos, a colony of Ionian Chalcis.

Throughout the sixth century it was independent and ruled by the first of the tyrants of Sicily, Panaetius.

It was captured by Hippocrates, tyrant of Gela, in 495 bce, and then came under the dominion of Syracuse and was transformed into a military fort for control of the surrounding territory.

In 476 bce Hieron of Syracuse deports the inhabitants of Naxos and Catana to Leontini.

Leontini regained its independence around 466 after the death of Thrasybulus and the end of the Deinomenid dynasty in Syracuse.

Threatened by the expansionism of nearby peoples Leontini concluded an alliance with Athens, which was renewed in 433 bce, under the influence of Pericles.

In 427 Syracuse attacks Leontini, and the city sends an embassy to Athens requesting aid.

Gorgias of Leontini heads the embassy, and addresses the Athenian assembly repeatedly over the next days:"In the end he won the Athenians over to an alliance with the Leontines, and after having been admired in Athens for his rhetorical skill he made his return to Leontini." (Didorus Siculus 12.53.4)

Following the peace established by the congress of Gela (424), civil strife in Leontini between aristocratic and democratic factions led to the intervention of Syracuse in support of the aristocrats.

The democratic population was expelled, the city walls were pulled down, and the aristocrats were granted Syracusan citizenship

Eventually the aristocrats in Syracuse become dissatisfied, return to Leontini, ally themselves with the democrats, and carry on war against Syracuse. This event provokes the embassy of Pheax from Athens in 422.

In 416, the Leontines join with the Egestans in appealing to Athens for aid; the Sicilian expedition results.

above: obverse of tetradrachma of Leontini; quadriga with Nike crowning the horses