Historical studies on the appearance of Greek secular buildings, common houses, streets and neighborhoods, are rather limited compared to those for religious or monumental structures, due to the relative lack of archaeological evidence. This is very much the case for Athens, one of the oldest cities in the world. Utilizing a large number of sources, we review such aspects of the city through the millennia of its history. Based on this, a case is presented, regarding a remarkable continuity of the city's cultural expression, through the character of its urban environment.