The sacred areas and the temple in Troy were completely destroyed by the two earthquakes in the 500s C. E.
The Byzantinean period in Troy also witnessed a great battle, just like it did in the previous periods. In 324, Byzantine Emperors Constantine's and Licinius' armies faced each other in Aianteion, which is not that far from Ilion, and the victorious Constantine became the only ruler of the Mediterranean region. Just like the other rulers, Constantine also visited Ilion (Troy). Big changes had taken place in Ilion after the second half of the fifth century; however, an earthquake in the fifth century B. C. E. had destroyed the acropolis and the surrounding structures. While life in the city in part continued as usual after this earthquake, Ilion was largely abandoned after a second earthquake, which was even stronger. In the sixth century, there were still a small number of people living there, but Ilion was in ruins. Especially after this period, the fact that the center of Christianity was in Constantinople also played a role in the decrease of Ilion's influence, which then became the "city of the polytheists." While gods of both religions were worshipped at the archbishopric in Ilion, this period was short-lived. Due to the pressures from the Christian institutions, polytheism was outlawed and thus Ilion (Troy) was destined to be forgotten. From then on, between the end of the twelfth century and the beginning of the thirteenth century, there was hardly a sign of any settlement in Ilion. When the Ottomans started to control the Dardanelles, there was no longer a settlement in Ilion. When Mehmet the Conqueror visited the city after his conquest of Constantinople, the place was completety in ruins.
