Yes, that makes sense to me. Monotheistic theocracies can splinter too over doctrinal issues, but I think the splintering is structural in polytheism. Though only if it’s not just ideological, but also material. For example because different gods have different temples and their cults are mostly centered in different cities. I just quickly researched examples.
Like in Egypt it was material: when the pharaohs were weak and the priests ruled temporarily, Thebes Amun cult dominated, but still constantly competed with Ra. Much later, when the city Thebes became powerful again, they were combined to one god Amun-Ra.
In contrast, the Buddhist theocracy in Tibet recognized many deities on an ideological level, but was materially very centralized and stable for a long time.
Yes, that makes sense to me. Monotheistic theocracies can splinter too over doctrinal issues, but I think the splintering is structural in polytheism. Though only if it’s not just ideological, but also material. For example because different gods have different temples and their cults are mostly centered in different cities. I just quickly researched examples.
Like in Egypt it was material: when the pharaohs were weak and the priests ruled temporarily, Thebes Amun cult dominated, but still constantly competed with Ra. Much later, when the city Thebes became powerful again, they were combined to one god Amun-Ra.
In contrast, the Buddhist theocracy in Tibet recognized many deities on an ideological level, but was materially very centralized and stable for a long time.