Athena Promachos stood[8] overlooking her city for approximately 1000 years, until shortly after 465 CE,[9] when the sculpture was transported to Constantinople (capital of the Eastern Roman Empire) as a trophy in the "Oval Forum", which became the last bastion and safe haven for many surviving Greek bronze sculptures under the protection of the Eastern Empire's Imperial court. Niketas Choniates documented a riot taking place in the Forum of Constantine in Constantinople in 1203 CE where a large, bronze, statue of Athena was destroyed by a "drunken crowd" of Crusaders which is now thought to have been the Athena Promachos.[3]