View source for Parma (shield)

{{Short description|Round shield used by the Roman army}}
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A '''''parma''''' or '''''parmula''''' (the diminutive of ''parma'') was a type of round shield used by the [[Roman army]], especially during the later period of [[Roman Empire|imperial history]] since the [[3rd century]].<ref name="urlHandbook to Life in Ancient Rome - Lesley Adkins, Roy A. Adkins, Both Professional Archaeologists Roy A Adkins - Google Książki">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zGY1Sqjwf8kC&q=parma+round+oval&pg=PA88 |title=Handbook to Life in Ancient Rome - Lesley Adkins, Roy A. Adkins, Both Professional Archaeologists Roy A Adkins - Google Książki |isbn=9780816074822 |last1=Adkins |first1=Lesley |last2=Adkins |first2=Roy A. |date=14 May 2014 |publisher=Infobase }}</ref>

== Characteristics ==
The ''parma'' was about 36 inches (91&nbsp;cm) across (or less) and had iron in its frame, making it a very effective piece of armour. ''Parmae'' had  handles and [[shield boss]]es (''umbones'').

The ''parma'' was used by legionaries in the early republican period of Rome's history, by the lowest class division of the army— the ''[[velites]]''. Their equipment consisted of a ''parma'', javelin, sword and helmet. Later, the ''parma'' was replaced by the body-length ''[[scutum]]'' as ''velites'' were phased out with the so-called "[[Marian reforms]]". [[File:Het Valkhof - Reiter mit Pferd.jpg|thumb|Reconstruction of a Roman cavalry man with a ''parma''|alt=]]

==War use==
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| image2 = PraetorianVexillifer_1.jpg|width2=150
| caption2 = ''Signifer'' with a ''parmula''
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It was used mainly by [[Auxilia|auxiliary]] infantry and cavalry, with the [[Legionary|legionaries]] preferring the heavier but more protective ''scutum'', during earlier periods. It was used also by ''[[signifer]]i'' (standard bearers).

In [[Virgil]]'s ''[[Aeneid]]'', the ''parma'' is cited as a weapon utilised by the [[King Teucer|Teucrians]] in defence against the Greeks ([[Trojan War|Battle of Troy]]), and later against the [[Rutuli|Rutulians]].

==Other uses==
The ''parmula'' was the shield used by [[thraex|thraex gladiators]].
It was also used by the Roman ''vexilliferi'' or [[Standard-bearer|flag bearers]] that carried the standard that marked the [[cohort (military unit)|cohort]], as well as by most early auxiliaries.

In the [[Pyrrhichios|Pyrrhic dance]] it was raised above the head and struck with a sword so as to emit a loud ringing noise.

==See also==
* [[Roman military personal equipment]]
* ''[[Clipeus]]''

==References==
<references />

==External links==
*[https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/secondary/SMIGRA*/Parma.html Parma] (Smith's Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities at [[LacusCurtius]])

[[Category:European weapons]]
[[Category:Roman shields]]
[[Category:Late Roman military]]


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