The ancient Greek house (Oikos) was made of sun-dried mud brick, sometimes with stone foundation. The wooden roof was covered in overlapping clay tiles. Oikos could have one or two floors.

In Athens, houses had different shapes and sizes. A poor house could be as simple as 1 multi-functional room with packed earth floor. Rich houses were organized around central courtyard for light and ventilation. This patio, often surrounded by colonnade, was the common space for all the family.

It contained the altar for sacrifices to the family gods, and a well. The front wall provided security and privacy to the family. There was a single wooden gate.
Large country houses were surrounded by agricultural land, which the family cultivated as the basic economic unit.