It was once thought that certain types of Attic pottery, like the Nolan amphorae, might imply the presence of Campanian mercenaries in Sicily as early as the beginning of the 5th century BC. The present paper, following in-depth analysis of the available archaeological and literary sources, and focusing attention on grave goods from Gela and Agrigento, reveals that Attic pottery importations cannot be used reliably to prove the presence of Italic misthophoroi on the island during the first part of the 5th century BC.