Primarily, it was a title for Greek gods and heroes that typically indicated one who was an originator or ancestor, especially of new colonies or settlements.
[5] The name has reference either to Apollo as the leader and protector of colonies, or as the founder of towns in general, in which case the import of the name is nearly the same as Δεὸς πατρῷος.
Due to this symbolically central role, Greeks leaving Sicily would often visit the altar – Malkin describes it as a "ritualistic point of departure".
The pan-Sikeliote nature of Apollo Archegetes is also evident in Timoleon's use of the god as the symbol of his symmachia, or alliance.
[6][7] The Apollo Archegetes at Naxos was Pythian, rather than Delian, with regard to its identity – it was connected to the similarly pan-Hellenic Delphic oracle.