The first episodes of persecution of paganism in the history of the Roman Empire started late in Constantine's reign, with his orders for the pillaging and the tearing down of pagan temples.[1][2][3] The anti-paganism policy of Constantine the Great evolved from the initial prohibition on the construction of new temples[16] and the toleration of pagan sacrifices,[17] to orders for the looting and the tearing down of the temples by the end of his reign.[1][1][2][2][3][3] Earlier in his reign he had prohibited the construction of new temples[16] but tolerated the practice of pagan sacrifices.[17]