Since when was Troy accepted to be a sacred city?

After Troy was destroyed around 1180's B. C. E. due to a war, the city lost its fortifications and became home to a cult until 1000 В. C. E. After this, the "Dark Ages" (approximately 950 - 720/700 В. C. E.) that encompasses all of the Eastern Mediterranean and Anatolia started. During this period, a very small settlement survived in Troy; however, its last Bronze Age walls remind us of its previous magnificence. After the revival of trading in the Mediterranean region in 8th century B. C. E., new trade colony states stated to be founded in West Anatolia. It is at the start of this period, approximately in 700s B. C. E. and later on, i.e.during the lifetime of Homer, the oldest structure of the holy area was built by the Anatolian Greeks that came to Hisarlik Tepe (Troy). However, as can be understood from the sacrificial gifts, this place was not only considered sacred during the lifetime of Homer, but even before that it was so. Especially starting with the third century B. C. E., it received much respect as the "sacred city of Ilion" where the Trojan War took place and the temple of Athena in the castle and other magnificent religious structures were built.