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Parma or parmula (the diminutive of parma) was a type of round shield used by the Roman army, especially during the later period of Imperial history.
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It was a yard across (or less) and had iron in its frame, making it a very effective piece of armor. Parma had a handle and a shield boss (umbo).
The Parma was used by legionaires in the Early Republican period of Rome's history by the lowest class division of the army--the Velites. The Velites armor consisted of a parma, javelin, sword and helmet. Later, the parma was replaced by the scutum.
The parma was very effective in the act of blocking arrows; making it a favorite, for the time, of the Roman infantry.
It was used mainly by auxiliary infantry and cavalry, the legionaries preferring the heavier but more protective scutum, during earlier periods. It was used also by signifer.
In Virgil's Aeneid, the parma is cited as a weapon utilised by the Teucrians in defence against the Greeks (Battle of Troy), and later against the Rutulians.
Parmula was the shield used by thraex gladiator. It was also used by the roman vexillifers or flag bearers that carried the standard that marked the cohort as well as most early auxiliaries.
In the Pyrrhic dance it was raised above the head and struck with a sword so as to emit a loud ringing noise.