The latter had declared war on Syracuse because their common enemy, the Sicel leader Ducetius, had returned to Sicily to colonize Cale Acte.

At night he entered the city's marketplace and seated himself at the altars of the gods to become a suppliant who was entitled to sanctuary.

[3] After spending some time in Corinth Ducetius broke the agreement and sailed back to Sicily with colonists to found Cale Acte.

After the battle Acragas sent ambassadors to Syracuse to discuss terms for a peace treaty which ended the war.

[citation needed] Syracuse probably had a superiority in cavalry, which made Acragas pick a battle site close to a river to negate this advantage of their enemy somewhat.