The castle's origins are related to a fortress erected in the 1st millennium BC by the Sicani at the foundation of the ancient Henna, on a hill at 970 m over the sea level. It remained a key possession in the subsequent history of the island, and the Romans were able to conquer it only by passing through its sewer network. Under the castle was that was the ancient Sican temple of Ceres, origin of the widespread of the cult of that goddess in the whole Italy, which was described by Cicero.