(7) The first Hellenic colonists sailed from Chalcis in Euboea under the leadership of Thucles,1
and founded Naxos; there they erected an altar in honour of Apollo the Founder,2
which is still standing without the city3
, and on this altar religious embassies sacrifice before they sail from Sicily. (8)
In the following year Archias, one of the Heraclidae, came from Corinth and founded Syracuse, first driving the Sicels out of the island of Ortygia; in which, though it is no longer surrounded by the sea, the inner city now stands; in process of time the outer city was included within the walls and became populous. (9)
In the fifth year after the foundation of Syracuse Thucles and the Chalcidians went forth from Naxos, and driving out the Sicels by force of arms, founded first Leontini, then Catana. The Catanaeans however chose a founder of their own, named Evarchus.