Gelon was born in Gela in 540 BC. He was ruler of Gela (491-485 BC), then of Syracuse from 485 BC until his death.
During his life he was given important military and diplomatic assignments in matters relating to Magna Graecia.
Thanks to the marriage of his daughter Demarete to Theron, he married into the tyrant of Agrigento’s family. He died in Syracuse in 478 BC.