Excavations have revealed a complex, multi-layered urban landscape in which each settlement phase adapted, reused, or dismantled the architecture of its predecessors. Prominent examples include the massive limestone fortifications of Troy I, the sloping stone walls and towers of Troy VI, the crowded domestic quarters and pithos storage installations of Troy VIIa, and the public monuments and theatres of Troy VIII–IX. Several structures, such as the citadel walls of Troy VI, remained in use for centuries, while others were deliberately destroyed or repurposed. The site also preserves specialized features like megaron-type houses, monumental gates, drainage systems, and later Roman civic buildings, all of which contribute to reconstructing Troy’s changing urban and social fabric.

circa

An excellent insight in to the strata of the mound of Hisarlık is given by the eastern profile visible to the south. Along with the "middle trench" (dug in 1872 CE) of Schliemann and further work by Dorpfeld (1893) and Korfmann (1990-1996) has resulted in exposing a clear profile with a complete sequence of strate from Troy II to Troy IX, representing a time span from the mid third millennium BCE through the Roman imperial period.

circa 3000- 2550 BCE

Fortification Wall Troy I
The forticiation walls dating back to Troy I were built circa 2920 BCE, directly on the bedrock. The walls contained projections which may have been the defensive towers. These fortifications belong to the early and middle Troy I. The south gate of the Troy I walls was only 3 meters wide. In the area, the archaeological deposits four meters deep suggest a long period of occupation. The walls were built slightly inward-sloping enclosed a settlement that had a diameter of about 90 meters.

In front of the tower at least one stele with relief decoration showing the upper half f a human figure possibly holding a weapon is known to have stood. This tradition of such stelae semms to have carried on at ancient Troy for centuries and over a thousand years later such stone stelae reappea in front of the south gate of Troy VI phase.

circa 2400 BCE

Palace Structure Troy II

circa 2400 BCE

Ramp Troy II
The grand ramp of phase Troy II, built with impressive paved flat stones and flanked by mud brick walls, provided entrance through the gate (FM). This is where the so-called legendary "Priam's Treasure" was discovered by Schliemann.

circa 2400 BCE

Fortification Walls Troy II
The fortification or circuit wall of Troy II was rebuilt several times during this period, so as to enlarge the citadel. The current visible remains of the walls was the final phase of Troy II, which consisted of a substructure of limestone with layers of mud brick above. It was approx. 330 meters long, 4 meters thick, and enclosed an area of approx. 8800 square meters.

circa 300 BCE

Hellenistic Period Water Well Troy VIII

circa 1750- 1300 BCE

North-East Bastion Troy VI
The north-east tower or bastion, the most impressive and massive of anceint Troy's forticiation structures, belongs to the heavily fortified citadel of Troy VI. The tower enclosed a 10 meters depp water wll which was sunk during the same time of Troia VI period and restored during Troy VII period. The tower, which was also accessible from the outside, consisted of an enormous stone substructure measuring 18 x 8 meters and standing at least nine meters high, however, today only seven meters remain. On top was a superstructure of unbaked mud-brick, although what this structure loked like is not known.

During the subsequent periods of Troy VIII-IX the tower was built over by the enclosure wall of the Athena temple precinct. During Troy VIII a narrow staircase ran down the north face of the tower to another more low-lying well. To the east the tower was joined by the circuit wall of the lower-town.

circa 1750- 1300 BCE

South Gate Troy VI

circa 1750- 1300 BCE

Fortifications Troy VI
The total circumfrence of the fortification wall around the citadel Troy VI was approx. 550 meters of which approx. 330 meters is still preserved. The eastern section of the Troy VI walls is the best preserved and displays a highly refined techniqe of construction, with very carefully worked rectangular blocks of limestone.

This wall was subdivided by vertical offsets placed at regular intervals. These continued the lines of the corners of the timber-framed superstructure which probably once stood on the walls,so providing (as it were) a visual foundation. The slightly inward-sloping sub-structure of the wall is approx. six meters high and 4.5-5 meters thick. The superstructure, no longer preserved, reached up a further 3-4 meters. Besides timber beams, this was initially built of sundried mud-brick; but in time the whole superstructure was replaced by a narrow stone wall. Two overlapping sections of wall constitute the entrance to the citadel. Already in the Hellenistic period, the eastern wall of this gateway was deeply cut into by the retaining and foundation wall of the temple precinct.

circa 1750- 1300 BCE

East Tower Troy VI
The eastern section of the Troy VI wall was supplementd by a massive fortification tower, was built outside the wall in later phase of Troy VI period. It is eleven meters wide and projects eight meters from the face of the wall. Its eastern wall is three meteres thick. The tower consisted of two storeys, with a wooden floor in between. Access to the tower was only possible at the second story level.

circa 300BCE/25 CE

Greco-Roman Temple of Athena VIII-IX
The temple of Athena in the Greco-Roman city of ilion measured approx. 36 x 16 meters, and was surrounded by a colonnade of Doric order supporting a coffered ceiling. Outside on the entablature, where metopes (reliefs) the most famous of which shows Apollo/Helios. THe is now displayed in Berlin. It is though that the temple was built by Lysimachus one of Alexander the Great's successors, around 300 BCE. It was restored in Rome times, probably by the order of emperor Augustus (31 BCE - 14 CE). In Greek and Roman periods the temple was the focal point of a great annual festival in honour of the goddess Athena. This event was marked by sacrifices and athletic contests.

circa 50 CE

Sanctuary Area Troy VIII-IX

circa 120 CE

Roman Odeon Troy VIII-IX
The odeon of Troy was a smalltheater where concerts, lectures and other auditory event would have taken place. The odeon (odeion), along with nearby baths, and bouleuterion (council chamber) was situated on the fringes of the agora (marketplace). The semicirculr orchestra of the odeion was tied to a scenae (stage building) that included an over-life sized representation f the emperor Hadrian (117-138 CE). Facing the stage rose tiers of seats fashined from limestone blocks and accessed by radial aisles. The seating capacity was somewhere between 1700 to 2100 spectators. The odeon may have been erected in honour of Hadrian's visit to Troy (Ilium) in 124 CE, when the nearby tomb of Ajax was also rebuilt. The odeion was probably roofed even though no exterior supporting walls have been recovered.

circa 50 CE

Roman Baths of Troy VIII-IX