Thermae be applied to those magnificent edifices which grew up under the empire, in place of the simple balneae of the republic, and which comprised within their range of buildings all the appurtenances belonging to the Greek gymnasia, as well as a regular establishment appropriated for bathing. Writers, however, use these terms without distinction. Thus the baths erected by Claudius Etruscus, the freedman of the Emperor Claudius, are styled by Statius "balnea", and by Martial "Etrusci thermulae". In an epigram by "Martial"—"subice balneum thermis"—the terms are not applied to the whole building, but to two different chambers in the same edifice.
Roman Thermae (Varna) and Baths of Diocletian in the imperial capital Rome and the baths of Trier. The thermae are the largest in the Balkan region and the biggest surviving ancient building in what is today Bulgaria. The Roman Thermae of Varna feature the whole range of facilities including a "apodyterium" (changing room), a "frigidarium" (cold pool), a "tepidarium" (warm pool) and a "caldarium" (hot pool) as well as a "palaestra" (a space with social and athletic functions). Heating was provided by means of a hypocaust, an underfloor heating system of pipes. Roman Thermae (Varna) The Roman Thermae (, "Rimski termi") are a