PARMA

dim. PARMŬLA, a round shield, three feet in diameter, carried by the velites in the Roman army. Though small, compared with the Clipeus , it was so strongly made as to be a very effectual protection. This was probably owing to the use of iron in its frame-work. The parma was also worn by the cavalry. We find the term parma often applied to the target [ Cetra ], which was also a small round shield, and therefore very similar to the parma. IMG:6459379820872971714_ill285a.jpg: Parma. (From the Column a Trajana.)