Praetorian equipment

Praetorians from Cancelleria A relief

When on duty in the city of Rome, Praetorians wore civilian dress, including the toga, presumably to look less threatening, but they carried the standard weapons of the legionary soldier: gladius (sword), pilum (javelin), and shield, though the Praetorian shields were oval (or sometimes round) and had distinctive motifs, such as the moon and stars that you see in this relief. These Praetorians are accompanying the emperor as he sets off on campaign, so they wear the poncho-like traveling cloak (paenula) and neck scarf (focale). Once in the field they will also wear a military helmet and a cuirass (breastplate). Their standard bearers (signiferi) had some distinctions from those of the legions; as can be seen on this relief from Trajan's column, they had portraits of the emperor on their poles and they wore lion skins instead of bear skins on their heads and shoulders. For formal displays and parades, the Praetorians wore much more elaborate armor.