Line #62 Main/HighPriest


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4	[[quoteright:350:[[TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1191006_bigthumbnail.png]]]]
5	[[caption-width-right:350:The job ''always'' comes with a silly hat.]]
6
7	A character (or several) that leads the religious group that this character would belong to. These characters can be either [[GoodShepherd good]] or [[SinisterMinister evil]], depending on whether the religion in question is a SaintlyChurch or ReligionOfEvil, respectively. It can be a bit more iffy in a CorruptChurch, since the character may be a CluelessBoss who does not know of its corruption or may be working to root it out. The High Priest usually resides in a Vatican-style HolyCity, especially if the church worships an [[CrystalDragonJesus Abrahamic-analogue God]].
8
9	A common variation is for the characters to be Priest Kings, who lead their people both spiritually and [[TheEmperor physically]]. This is particularly common if they lead a [[TheTheocracy theocracy]].
10
11	Expect RankScalesWithAsskicking to be in full effect in fantasy fiction, especially if ReligionIsMagic.
12
13	UsefulNotes/ThePope is the TropeCodifier, hence why many High Priests reside in Vatican-style cities, worship Abrahamic-analogue Gods, and [[ChristianityIsCatholic borrow Catholic aesthetics]]. Compare the GodEmperor, who usually leads and is worshiped by the religion in question. There is a good chance he will carry a [[StaffOfAuthority Staff or]] HatOfAuthority. If the High Priest is also the leader of the government, you've likely got TheTheocracy. [[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant For a priest who's another kind of high]], see JunkieProphet.
14	----
15	!!Examples:
16
17	[[foldercontrol]]
18
19	[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
20	%%* Father Cornello, the priest of Leto's Church in ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist''. Evil.
21	* ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'': Father Magin of Adai Village, who founded a CargoCult around an abandoned [[HumongousMecha Gunmen]]. Not evil, but does use his religion to make killing children ForTheGreaterGood more palatable. It is indicated that living conditions in the village have improved considerably since he took charge, and Magin himself finds his deception to be distasteful... but necessary for everyone's survival.
22	* ''Anime/YuGiOh'' has a couple of late arcs in which we start to learn who exactly our main character is and why he inhabits a puzzle, and it turns out that Seto Kaiba, an early antagonist who edged toward NobleDemon since his second return from PutOnABus defeat, though he never quite accepted that DefeatMeansFriendship, is the reincarnation of the the High Priest who served under the Puzzle Spirit three thousand years ago[[note]]in some lost period of New Kingdom history, apparently, unless you follow another translation and make it five thousand, which makes him the Scorpion King or something and doesn't agree with the architecture[[/note]], and apparently only betrayed him because of MindControl from his own dead father, the previous High Priest [[BigScrewedUpFamily and the previous Pharaoh's younger twin brother]]. Who made the magic gold jewelry by ''burning [[AxCrazy Bakura's]] family alive.''
23	* Knight Carim Gracia of ''Franchise/LyricalNanoha'', current head of the [[SaintlyChurch Saint Church]].
24	[[/folder]]
25
26	[[folder:Fanfiction]]
27	* The protagonist Prometheus in ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7893756/1/The_Chronicles_of_Utopia_Volume_II The Chronicles of Utopia Volume II]]'' becomes the High Priest of Pelor, the major god of Light, and a major priest of Bahamut, Lord of all Metallic Dragons, on the planet of Oerth in Greyhawk where he rules as Emperor.
28	* ''FanFic/QueenOfShadows'': Sanshobo, as General of the [[ChurchMilitant Kamikiri tribe]], is this for the Shadowkhan and their worship of the Queen as a divine [[GodEmperor Goddess-Empress]]. He's TheFundamentalist but played mostly for laughs.
29	* ''Fanfic/AgesOfShadow'': After [[FallenHero Jade]] takes over the [[{{Cult}} Shadow Walkers]] and reorganizes them into a ReligionOfEvil based on the [[AGodAmI worship of her "Yade Khan" persona]], she grants her appointed leader the title of "Himinion" (clearly a portmanteau of "High Minion"). The two accepted means of gaining this position are direct appointment by Jade herself, or earning it by [[AsskickingLeadsToLeadership ritual trial]]; the Fourth Himinion took the title via [[KlingonPromotion covert assassination]], which got him killed and replaced almost instantly by Jade.
30	* In ''Fanfic/TheConfectionaryChronicles'', seven-year-old Hermione Granger dedicates herself to the worship of Loki after he helps her get justice following her older sister's suicide, regularly leaving offerings for her god on a makeshift altar, and once she performs a [[BloodMagic blood sacrifice]] (of her own blood), she is automatically elevated to the status of Loki's High Priestess as his truest, most devout modern believer. Although Hermione just thinks of herself as a standard priestess at most, this becomes more than a title when [[spoiler:she unintentionally wins Fleur Delacour over to the idea of worshipping Loki, their subsequent joint ritual affirming Hermione as the High Priestess of worship to Loki with Fleur as her first true acolyte]].
31	* In ''Fanfic/{{Ripples}}'', Meridian's official religious body, the Sisterhood Covens, are led by an elite group called the High Coventors, who appear to have a first among equals based on seniority. However, after Phobos' purging of the covens following [[KnightTemplar Allora's]] failed coup, the faction that pledges loyalty to him instead appoints its leader the title of Grand Abbess.
32	* ''Fanfic/DungeonKeeperAmi'': The position exists in most of the Dark Gods' priesthoods:
33	** Tasbaal: Ex-High Priest of Murdrul the Devourer, since his god got eaten by Azzathra.
34	** High Priest Karmalun of Crowned Death's clergy, named in the narration after he died.
35	** Unnamed High Priests of Crowned Death, who take the position after their predecessors' deaths.
36	* ''Fanfic/TheMLPLoops'': Played for laughs. Chrysalis (HiveQueen of a species of {{Emotion Eater}}s) politely asks her friend Cadance (local LoveGoddess) if she can start a religion for her and be the high priestess. After all, changelings need love to survive and Cadance is all about love. Cadance is a little weirded out but agrees, and everything seems to go smoothly. In later loops Chrysalis occasionally [[OhMyGods swears by Cadance's name]].
37	* ''Fanfic/ChasingDragons'': While the High Septon continues to act as primary head of the Faith of the Seven as per [[Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire canon]], the new versions of the Faith that schism away select their own leaders:
38	** After Septon Jonothor's reformist faction properly organizes itself into a new hierarchy in Essos, it chooses him to act as First Septon.
39	** The ultra-conservative "Old Faith" faction denounces hierarchy of any kind, with its only official leadership beyond the local level being a general assembly of representatives from each congregation. However, in Essos at least, Septon Deryk has enough authority and influence to act as first among equals in said assembly.
40	** The [[TheFundamentalist fundamentalist]] faction that's partly responsible for the Upper Mander Rebellion is led by Septon Ryman, who is unquestionably viewed as their ultimate authority short of the gods themselves. Following his death and subsequent diaspora of his followers, however, they seem to be currently lacking central leadership.
41	* ''Fanfic/{{Maat}}'': Seen in Chapter 2, Ma'at has one, and is called Nebka. She helps guide Dani as she's TrappedInThePast.
42	* ''Fanfic/HarryPotterAndTheBoilingIsles'': The Titan-worshipping religion of the Boiling Isles is headed by five High Priests who report to Emperor Belos, and also seem to have administrative duties in addition to their religious ones, as they're noted to be the ones who appoint the Coven Heads.
43	[[/folder]]
44
45	[[folder:Film]]
46	* In the film ''Film/{{Avatar}}'', the Na'vi tribe Jake meets is led by a husband-wife pair: the husband is the military chief, and the wife is the high priestess. Their daughter, [[TheChiefsDaughter Neytiri]], is to follow in this tradition and be the next high priestess.
47	* ''Film/TheBeastmaster'': Maax was high priest of Aruk, but began leading their religion into human sacrifices. The king was outraged and banished him for it, but he later returned with allies to seize power.
48	* In ''Film/DunePartTwo'', the Fremen have Reverend Mothers of the Bene Gesserit as spiritual leaders, especially when it comes to keep the word of the prophecy of the Kwisatz Haderach going. The old Reverend Mother of Sietch Tabr is dying and Lady Jessica replaces her.
49	* [[http://akizukifantasycritic.blogspot.com/2010/10/movie-version-of-thulsa-doom.html Thulsa]] [[http://swellco2000.com/tag/conan-the-barbarian/ Doom]] from ''Film/ConanTheBarbarian1982''.
50	* Sarm the Priest-King in the film version of ''Literature/{{Gor}}''. The Priest-Kings in the book are nothing like that.
51	* [[http://blogs.crikey.com.au/purepoison/2010/10/29/a-dangerous-idea-that-stubbornly-refuses-to-die/ Mola]] [[http://www.imdb.com/media/rm473086720/ch0001075 Ram]] from ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom''.
52	* [[http://limoday.blogspot.com/2011/01/limhotep.html Imhotep]] from the black and white ''Film/TheMummy1932''.
53	* ''Film/{{Help}}'' has Music/TheBeatles, Ringo specifically, pursued by an Eastern death cult, led by high priest Clang, who at one point chats amicably with an Anglican priest about the importance of human sacrifice to focus the congregation.
54	* ''Film/BloodOfTheTribades'': Grando is the leader of the priests. He's a cruel fanatic who has no compunction with killing or exiling "sinners", nor torturing his priests if any fail him.
55	* ''WesternAnimation/TheRoadToElDorado'': Tzekel-Kan, part of the BigBadEnsemble. He's an AxCrazy {{Sadist}} who's overly eager to carry out HumanSacrifice in the gods' names and is constantly butting heads with Chief Tannabok over their differing opinions on how to please the gods. Luckily for Tannabok, the protagonists pretending to be gods take his side over Tzekel-Kan.
56	[[/folder]]
57
58	[[folder:Literature]]
59	* ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'':
60	** Hughnon Ridcully is the High Priest of the Ankh-Morpork clergy, of the sort that regards actual religious-ness as one of those tiresome things that you just have to put up with when what you really want to concentrate on is getting the pews organised.
61	** In ''Literature/SmallGods'', Deacon Vorbis of the Omnian church plots to take over the Omnian High Priest post (The Cenobiarch) and usher in a new age of religious terror.
62	*** One of the effects of the Prophet Brutha's revelation on the Omnian church was to abolish the Cenobiarch and ("let there be a thousand voices") start a long train of schisms, meaning Omnians stopped running around ruling an empire of grandeur and oppression and the suppression of science and got busy arguing theology all the time and became harmless and handed out a lot of pamphlets. Which is a ''tad'' problematic if you look at some of the awful shit Protestants have pulled in the last four hundred years, but the Disc can be like that.
63	** The horribly beweaponed [[ChurchMilitant Divine Legions]] also mutated after the Brutha reforms, to a residual organisation devoted to spreading the Word through the formation of brass bands and community hymn singing, armed with weapons no more formidable than tambourines and aggressively shaken collection boxes.
64	*** The Omnian in the Ankh-Morpork Watch (we never learn his exact denomination) is actually ''named'' Visit-The-Infidel-With-Explanatory-Pamphlets. They call him Visit. Of course, given Brutha achieved his great transformation from stupid youth to politically savvy prophet largely due to absorbing an {{Expy}} of the Great Library of Alexandria before it was burnt down, there may be rather sound theological reasons for those pamphlets. Although Visit was invented before Brutha.
65	** In ''Literature/{{Pyramids}}'', the main antagonist is High Priest Dios. Although the previous examples of Discworld high priests aren't evil, according to Pyramids, high priests have a general tendency to be evil. "There is no such thing as a good GrandVizier. A predilection to cackle and plot must be part of the job spec. High Priests are much the same way. No sooner than they get the funny hat they start giving orders about feeding babies to the sacred crocodiles and throwing virgins into volcanoes." Dios himself, however, is not evil so much as he's LawfulNeutral to the extreme, so utterly focused on tradition and routine that he domineers and overrules every pharaoh and effectively keeps the country quagmired into stasis all by himself.
66	* ''Literature/EarthsChildren'':
67	** Creb is {{downplayed\|trope}} example. The Clan don't have an official religious leader, but Creb is widely regarded as one of the most powerful and respected Mog-ur in his region; as such the other Mog-ur tend to defer to him and he leads their rituals. Even on the other side of Europe there are clans who have heard of Creb's power and hold reverence for him.
68	** Zolena is the high priestess of the Zelandonii, bearing the title 'Zelandoni Who is First'. She is considered the most powerful member of the zelandonia (both spiritually and politically-speaking), with all other zelandoni deferring to her when it comes to important decisions affecting the whole tribe. When Jondalar arrives at the Ninth Cave of the Zelandonii with Ayla, whom he plans to settle down with, he's anxious over whether Zelandoni[[note]]like all shamans in the setting, Zolena goes by her title rather than her given name, as a symbol of devotion to her people[[/note]] will accept her, knowing that Zelandoni's influence means she could make it impossible for Ayla to stay.
69	* ''Literature/JulianComstock'': Deacon Hollingshead, the head of the Dominion of Jesus Christ.
70	* ''Literature/TheTombsOfAtuan'': Tenar/Arha, the Eaten One, the high priestess of the Powers.
71	* ''Literature/JustElla'': Lord Reston by Margaret Peterson Haddix, who is priest to the king (although the king is technically the leader of the church.)
72	* ''Literature/StrangerInAStrangeLand'' has Foster, the founder of the Church of the New Revelation, and his successor, Supreme Bishop Digby. Valentine Michael Smith, as the leader of the Church of All Worlds, also fits.
73	* ''Franchise/StarWarsLegends'':
74	** ''Literature/NewJediOrder'': High Priest Jakan, head of the [[ScaryDogmaticAliens Yuuzhan Vong]] religious caste, is a recurring supporting villain during the last third of the series. His boss, [[EvilOverlord Supreme Overlord Shimrra]], is somewhere between Priest King and GodEmperor.
75	** ''Literature/TheHanSoloTrilogy'': Teroenza heads the fake Ylesian religion, and High Priest is his title.
76	* ''Literature/TheMistsOfAvalon'': High Priestess Viviane and Archdruid Taliesin.
77	* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' has a [[CrystalDragonJesus Pope-equivalent]] called the High Septon. The ones seen in the series have been fairly bad, including a corrupt glutton who was killed by a starving mob; the glutton's substantially (but not totally) better replacement, regarded as a decent man but also a weak-willed pawn, who was killed by political enemies; and most recently, an incorruptible, but fanatical and misogynistic, KnightTemplar.
78	* In ''Literature/{{Mistborn}}'' [[SmugSnake Lord Prelan Tevidian]] is High Priest of the CorruptChurch, one of the chief lieutenants of [[GodEmperor the Lord Ruler]] and [[spoiler: the father of heroine Vin]]. There is a faction in his church, led by [[WasOnceAMan the Steel Inquisitors]], that wants to get rid of him and put the head Inquisitor, Kar, in his place [[spoiler: and they succeed, offing Tevidian brutally before he has a chance to really do anything on-page, though Kar himself is then killed before he can enjoy his new position]].
79	* In ''Literature/JohnCarterOfMars'' the title of "Holy Hekkador" basically means "Priest King" among the [[PathOfInspiration Therns]]. During the time of the novels, it's held by Matai Shang, very much a villain.
80	* The ''Literature/GreenSkyTrilogy'' has D'ol Falla, described as high priest of the Vine. Since the Root of the Vine is all that stands between the good people of Green-sky and the revelation of a horrific truth, the high priest of the Vine is the ultimate authority on the planet. She lives in the Vine Palace at the heart of the Temple Grove.
81	* In the ''Literature/HeraldsOfValdemar'' series, Karse is always ruled by the High Priest and Son of the Sun, the most recent being Solaris, the first female to ascend the position after the god Vkandis decided to do a little rearranging of the hierarchy with a BoltOfDivineRetribution.
82	* A few in ''Literature/TalesOfTheBranionRealm''. The Hierarchpriest of Cannonshire, while possibly an expy of the Archbishop of Canterbury, is treated as a secular position and seems to be second in command next to the monarch, although he/she does have some religious duties. A truer high priest is the Archpriest of the Flame, the kingdom's god, and to a lesser extent the Archpriests of the other three [[SentientCosmicForce Aspects]]. There's also the Essussiate Pontiff (expy of the Pope) and his various bishops and abbots.
83	* In ''Literature/{{Elantris}}'', ''Wyrn'' is the title of the high priest of the [[ChurchMilitant Derethi]] faith, who is also the temporal leader of the [[TheTheocracy Fjordell]] [[TheEmpire Empire]]; the office is currently held by Wyrn Wulfden IV. Directly subordinate to him are approx. twenty lesser high priests called ''Gyorns'' (roughly analogous to cardinals); the Gyorn [[AntiVillain Hrathen]] is one of the novel's three core POV characters.
84	* Acatl in the ''Literature/ObsidianAndBlood'' trilogy is a High Priest of Mictlantecuhtli, the Aztec God of the Dead. This doesn't give him as much power or authority as you'd imagine; the God of the Dead is actually a lesser deity in the Aztec pantheon, and in fact Acatl was practically disowned by his family for taking up the priesthood instead of the more "honorable" profession of a warrior.
85	* Shirain in ''Literature/TheRogueKing'' is the High Priestess of the God of Lust and responsible for the protagonist's fall.
86	* In ''Literature/TheHeroesOfOlympus'', [[spoiler: Octavian declares himself 'Pontifex Maximus' in the final book, The Blood Of Olympus. It doesn't work out too well for him, and by the epilogue, Jason is bestowed the title and builds temples all over New Rome for all the gods.]]
87	* In ''Literature/TheElenium'' series by Creator/DavidEddings, the main religion of the Eosian continent is run by a whole council of {{High Priest}}s -- some good, some evil -- called patriarchs. They are roughly analogous to the cardinals of the Catholic church, with a Popelike leader called the Archprelate.
88	** And while the Church of Chyrellos serves as a FantasyCounterpartCulture of the Roman Catholic Church, their counterpart in Astel serves as one for the Eastern Orthodox Churches, except they have only one leader called the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archimandrite Archimandrite]]
89	** While it only comes up in the second trilogy, the Younger Gods of the Styrics each have their own High Priest or Priestess, all one thousand of them forming the governing body for all Styrics. Their exact selection criteria are unknown, but in the case of Aphrael she takes a direct hand in their selection. In the first trilogy Otha, King of Zemoch also serves as High Priest of the Azash, one of the Styric ''Elder'' Gods. The High Priest of Cyrgon also serves as a minor antagonist in the second trilogy.
90	* The Sworn Church from ''The Shadow Campaigns'' is actually set up to have ''three'' of these, each with specialized emphasis. The Pontifex of the White handles spiritual, theological, and philosophical matters; the Pontifex of the Red handles the church's bureaucracy and politics; the Pontifex of the Black is head of the inquisition. The last post was officially dissolved in an attempt to curb corruption a century before the novels begin [[spoiler: but is implied at the end of the first book and confirmed at the end of the second to still operate in secret; the other two Pontifexes are aware of the Black and take his input on matters concerning his sphere, but treat him as their TokenEvilTeammate and the Church at large is generally unaware of his activities]].
91	* ''Literature/OneNationUnderJupiter'': Emperor Piissimus, who serves as both Emperor and ''Pontifex Maximus''. Verus and Falsa Sperus fill this role to a lesser extent as well.
92	* ''Literature/TheTraitorSonCycle'': Christianity has two high priests -- the Patriarch of Rhum and the Patriarch of Liviapolis, with most of the world subscribing to one or another's variety of faith. They are, respectively, a villain and an ally of the heroes.
93	* ''Literature/TheToughGuideToFantasyland'': Jones describes and {{lampshade\|Hanging}}s the two types of high priests you are likely to meet in a typical cliched fantasy story. High ''priests'', whether fat and ugly or thin and unpleasant, will always be evil and corrupt. As a general rule, they do not actually believe in their god, but instead use their position and influence over worshippers to become wealthy, get away with petty cruelty, and acquire catamites and concubines. High ''priestesses'', who will always be either stern, serious and thin or good-looking and cheerfully helpful, will always be good.
94	* ''Literature/KaneSeries'': In ''Bloodstone'' there is Gerwein, high priestess of the female-only Temple of the moon goddess Shenan. Barely thirty and very beautiful, she's also haughty, cold, and a very talented politician. And she has access to a great library, not to mention some powerful artifact. Oh, and the Temple brings up orphans to become virgin sacrifices, just in case (even though human sacrifice is officially forbidden).
95	* ''Literature/TheReluctantKing'':
96	** Xylar has one whose office represents the chief of their pantheon, Zevetas.
97	** The theocrat of Tarxia. While the first was a puritanical fanatic who wanted to conquer everyone else, the current one appears to be a good sort (though he still heads an oppressive state).
98	** Iraz has two of them, husband and wife: the latter is also the lover of the King who, in order to maintain his role, has to partake in a ritual and monthly spend a night of passion with the high priestess. If his performance is unsatisfying, the priestess warns her husband, who presents the king a sacred rope he [[OrderedToDie must use to hang himself]].
99	* ''Literature/QuintaglioAscension'': Det-Yenalb is the leader of the main Quintaglio religion. He leads the campaign against Afsan, personally putting his eyes out as punishment for blasphemy.
100	* ''Literature/KushielsLegacy'': Daeva Gashtaham is the head priest (Aka-Magus) of Angra Mainyu's religion.
101	* ''Literature/ThePower'': Allie founds a new religion whom she's the head of, based on Goddess worship.
102	* ''Literature/BazilBroketail'': A number of minor characters are high priests or priestesses, along with a couple bishops, abbesses, etc. Lessis herself is high-ranking in the clergy of the Great Mother, though she isn't described this way. The others head up the clergy of a particular god, religious order, and/or location though, fitting this.
103	* ''Literature/TheBurningKingdoms'': Hemanth is the High Priest of Parijatdvipa and mentor to Emperor Chandra, who had encouraged him in his religious fanaticism, which includes {{human sacrifice}}s.
104	* ''Literature/{{Dragonvarld}}'': Melisande is the High Priestess of the Sacred Order, or the Sisters of the Eye, an all-female clergy, who is also a {{seer\|s}}. She succeeds the Mistress of Dragons, their goddess, after each Mistress dies and is deified in turn.
105	* ''Literature/TheQueenOfIeflaria'': The different gods in Ieflaria have orders which serve them at their temples, headed by archpriests or archpriestesses.
106	* ''Literature/APracticalGuideToEvil'': After [[GodOfDarkness Sve Noc]] completes their apotheosis and becomes a true god, they create a leadership position in their previously leaderless faith, held by [[spoiler:Catherine herself]]. As "First Under the Night," she has immense authority over the drow and becomes the most powerful [[CastingAShadow Night-wielder]] of them all, but [[WithGreatPowerComesGreatResponsibility is also charged]] with turning the mass of warring gangs the drow have devolved into back into a functional nation, and keeping Sve Noc themselves from [[AGodAmI going mad with power]]. "First Under the Night" doesn't just mean first in the heirarchy; [[spoiler:Catherine]]'s god expects her to be out in front, finding the stumbling blocks of their new way of life.
107	[[/folder]]
108
109	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
110	* ''Series/GameOfThrones'': Aeron Greyjoy seems to be the top Priest of the Drowned God faith. In the books, the Drowned Men who serve as priests in their religion actually don't have any ruling hierarchy — theoretically, all of the priests are equal and any priest can ordain another man as a priest if he is worthy. They don't have an equivalent to the High Septon in the Faith of the Seven. ''In practice'', of course, Drowned Priests who have been serving the longest and successfully revived the most initiates in drowning ceremonies are respected much more than others, and often in every generation or so there will be one Drowned Priest that all of the others look up to for guidance. Aeron is universally respected by the others — on the level of an Old Testament style prophet — and thus he is their ''unofficial'' leader, first among equals, etc. It also probably doesn't hurt that he's a scion of the Iron Islands' ruling House of Greyjoy.
111	* [[{{Cult}} Gorgom]] in ''Series/KamenRiderBlack'' is led by a triumvirate of priests, who are even called the "High Priests".
112	* ''Series/{{Merlin 2008}}'' has had three.
113	** Nimueh was the High Priestess of the Old Religion until her death at the end of season 1.
114	** It was revealed later that Morgause had become the new High Priestess, and when Morgana killed her as the blood sacrifice to open the veil between worlds, she became the new High Priestess.
115	** There was also Alator, a high priest of the Catha.
116	* In ''Series/BabylonFive'' the Grey Council (in its original form) has three representatives each from the Warrior, Religious, and Worker castes respectively. Delenn is in the religious caste, making her a High Priestess. [[spoiler:Delenn would later reform the council by reducing the Warrior and Religious representation to two each and increasing Worker representation to five, thereby [[TakeAThirdOption taking the third option]] to resolve the Warrior-Religious Minbari Civil War.]]
117	* On ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'', the Kai is the Bajoran equivalent of the Pope. Kai Opaka is wise, open-minded, and politically moderate. Unfortunately, she's soon replaced by Kai Winn, a SinisterMinister who cares about [[ItsAllAboutMe her own self-aggrandizement]] more than the good of Bajor.
118	* ''Series/ChillingAdventuresOfSabrina'':
119	** Father Faustus Blackwood is the High Priest of the [[HollywoodSatanism Church of Night]], making him the leader of Greendale's entire witch community. His predecessor in this role was Sabrina's father Edward, who served until his death.
120	** It's later established that the Church of Night is just one coven in a worldwide collective known as the Churches of Darkness, led by a Witches Council headed by an Anti-Pope.
121	* ''Series/TheOutpost'': Yavalla is the high priestess of the Blackbloods, and revered as a result. Later, she's succeeded by her daughter Wren.
122	* ''Series/TheMandalorian'': [[TheBlacksmith The Armorer]] serves this role for her Mandalorian tribe in addition to forging their weapons and armor. She carries herself with the manner of a priestess and is the prime source of information about Mandalorian tradition and culture. Her word is so respected among the members of the Covert that she can break up a brawl simply by speaking.
123	* ''Series/StarTrekTheOriginalSeries'': In "[[Recap/StarTrekS3E8ForTheWorldIsHollowAndIHaveTouchedTheSky For the World Is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky]]" Natira is this for the Yonadans, heading their religion. She alone, plus her husband, is allowed to view the Book of the People, their holy text.
124	* ''Series/{{Pandora}}'': The Seeker is the head of the Adaran religion. In addition, he's [[TheTheocracy the head of state on Adar]].
125	* ''Series/Foundation2021'':
126	** Luminism, one of the largest religions in the Galactic Empire, is led by a figure called the Proxima. A major subplot in the back half of Season 1 is [[TheEmperor Brother Day]] trying to influence the election of a new Proxima, as one of the leading candidates holds a firm [[FantasticRacism anti-cloning]] interpretation of the faith's teachings, which would undermine the genetic dynasty's rule.
127	** Poly Verisof is the High Cleric of the Church of the Galactic Spirit, the religion set up by the Foundation during the 138 year TimeSkip between Seasons 1 and 2. It's PlayedWith in his case, as while he does genuinely believe in the Plan created by Hari Seldon to guide humanity through the looming dark age, he admits that the Church as a whole is a ScamReligion established only to increase the Foundation's political influence, and is disgusted by it.
128	[[/folder]]
129
130	[[folder:Mythology and Religion]]
131	* In Literature/TheBible, Israel went through a period of being ruled by "Judges" like Samuel. God was actually [[AristocratsAreEvil very displeased]] when the Jews asked for a regular king.
132	** The actual office of High Priest and its duties in Ancient Israel are described, including the vestments to be worn and the proper way of butchering a sacrifice. The office was hereditary and dominated by the line of Aaron, Moses' brother, and of the Tribe of Levi. This fell out of joint a bit after the Babylonian Exile and while the office was restored by the returnees, it was destroyed along with a large amount of the Jewish religious hierarchy during the UsefulNotes/JewishRevolts. There hasn't been a High Priest since then. The rabbinical class to some degree took the place of the priesthood, but rabbis can't do sacrifices, one reason that modern Jews don't sacrifice anymore (the other is that there is no Temple). There are, however, many Jews who are hereditary priests--the last names Cohen, Kahn, Kahane, Kane, Katz, and others all come from the Hebrew word kohen, or priest, and signify priestly families--and they do still have some special religious duties, such as giving blessings to the congregation on holidays. There is no high priest, or kohen gadol, because the method for selecting the high priest (there were different selection methods in the first and second Temples) became defunct when the Temple was destroyed.
133	** One [[OneSceneWonder famous example]] from the Literature/BookOfGenesis was Melchizedek, a Canaanite priest-king who gave Abraham and Sarah some food and blessed them. He is also noted for acknowledging the Abrahamic {{God}}, although it is not clear whether Melchizedek was a monotheist or merely worshipped {{God}} as part of a larger pantheon.
134	** ''Literature/BookOfExodus'' has Aaron, as mentioned above.
135	** Then there's Jesus himself, who is both king of all creation, and intercedes between humans and God the Father in the manner of the high priest (including performing [[HeroicSacrifice a rather famous sacrifice.]]) It was prophesied (in the Old Testament Psalm 110) that the Messiah would be "a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek". The Literature/BookOfHebrews goes into some detail on what this means.
136	* In [[UsefulNotes/TarotCards Tarot]] the Major Arcana include The High Priestess (II), who represents (among other things) hidden knowledge and wisdom, and the Hierophant (V), who represents concepts like relationship with the divine or education. They were originally (and indeed in some places still are) The Popess and The Pope.
137	[[/folder]]
138
139	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
140	* In ''TabletopGame/{{Exalted}}'', the High Priest of the Unconquered Sun angers Sol so much, he turned his face from his Exalted, and let the Usurpation happen without any intervention. Said high priest claimed that Sol backed a tax increase, without having bothered to check with him.
141	* ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'': [[http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=214352 Elesh]] [[http://www.planeswalkerslibrary.com/images/action/Elesh_Norn.jpg Norn]], Grand [[TheBlank Cenobite]] is the leader of [[TheLegionsOfHell New Phyrexia's]] [[LightIsNotGood white-aligned]] faction, the [[ReligionOfEvil Machine Orthodoxy]].
142	* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' has several:
143	** Ecclesiarch, the head of the Adeptus Ministorum, or Eccelsiarchy, the state church of the Imperium of Man. Currently Eos Ritira holds the post, a woman of a reformist bent.
144	** The Fabricator-General of Mars, the leader of the Adeptus Mechanicus and senior priest of the [[MachineWorship Machine Cult]].
145	** SpaceMarine Chapters have their own Chapter cults revering the God-Emperor and their Primarch, led by the Master of Sanctity or High Chaplain.
146	** Generally if the role is needed to be shown in a local story an Ecclesiarchy Cardinal will fill it leading lesser priests.
147	* In ''TabletopGame/{{Anima Beyond Fantasy}}'', the Holy Sacred Emperor (now Empress) is also the head of the Holy Church of Abel, even if some of its members haven't recognized her as that and have instead named a Summum Archbishop. However, (s)he leads it rather spiritually, and the Church itself is governed by said Summum Archbishop.
148	[[/folder]]
149
150	[[folder:Theatre]]
151	* Music/GiuseppeVerdi's ''Theatre/{{Nabucco}}'' has two - the [[SinisterMinister High Priest of Baal]], and [[BadassPreacher Zacaria, the High Priest of the Jews]].
152	* Sarastro in ''Theatre/TheMagicFlute''.
153	* ''Theatre/CesareIlCreatoreCheHaDistrutto'' features not [[UsefulNotes/PopeAlexanderVI one]], not [[UsefulNotes/PopeJuliusII two]], but ''three'' future popes (the third is Giovanni de'Medici, who would later become Leo X). The story is about a teenaged Cesare Borgia in college with Giovanni, against the backdrop of the death of Pope Innocent VIII, and the coming papal conclave on which the fate of Italy hangs. Of course, Cesare's father Rodrigo wins... for the moment.
154	[[/folder]]
155
156	[[folder:Video Games]]
157	* [[InconsistentSpelling Habaruku/Habalk]] in ''VideoGame/BreathOfFireII'' is the High Priest of the Church of Eva. [[spoiler: [[OffscreenTeleportation He also masquerades as the village priest in the tiny town of Gate.]]]]
158	* ''VideoGame/AnEgyptianTale'' have multiple priestesses of Anubis' cult as an AmazonBrigade of enemies in the second stage, which ends with a boss battle against the High Priestess.
159	* ''VideoGame/BloodySpell'' has the high priestess of the Legion of Void, and her legion of handmaidens, as enemies appearing rather late in the game. The HP herself is notably the stage boss.
160	* Galius from ''VideoGame/ExitFate'', High Priest of Cento while also Governor of Oischin.
161	* A handful of characters with this title appear at certain specific points in ''VideoGame/NetHack''.
162	* The Lord High Priest in ''VideoGame/DragonQuestVIII'' lives in a special residence on the Holy Isle of Neos and functions as the spiritual leader of the world's major religion.
163	* ''Franchise/DragonAge''
164	** The Divine is the head of the Andrastian Chantry. After a schism, there are currently two separate Chantries, each with its own Divine.
165	** Before the founding of the Chantry, the [[TheMagocracy Tevinter Imperium]] worshipped seven draconic figures known as the Old Gods. Each of the Old Gods had their own high priest, called the Sidereal Magisters. The seven Sidereal Magisters are, according to legend, responsible for corrupting [[{{Heaven}} the Golden City]] and unleashing [[TheCorruption the Blight]] on the world.
166	* The Paranid Empire, a theocracy in the ''[[VideoGame/{{X}} X-Universe]]'' series, is ruled by Xaar, the Priest-Emperor or more formally the Pontifex Maximus Paranidia.
167	* Tyrande Whisperwind, High Priestess of the Moon and, along Malfurion Stormrage, leader of the night elves in the ''VideoGame/{{Warcraft}}'' universe. Doubles as a LadyOfWar too.
168	** As of Legion in ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'' [[spoiler: after King Varian's death]], Anduin Wrynn is this for the Alliance.
169	* In ''VideoGame/TheSimsMedieval'', the Jacoban priest can become this after reaching a certain level.
170	* ''Franchise/FireEmblem'':
171	** In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemTheSacredStones'', Rausten is [[TheTheocracy a theocracy]] founded by the {{All Loving Hero}}ine Latona, and whose King or Queen tends to be known as its Pontifex. During the events of the game their Crown Princess, L'Arachel, becomes a member of the cast; her uncle/ParentalSubstitute and the current Pontifex, Mansel the Divine Emperor, later helps out the group itself [[ParentsInDistress after they rescue him]].
172	** In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemRadiantDawn'', the Apostle is said to be able to speak to the Goddess Ashera, making her both Ashera's high priestess and the Empress of Begnion. [[spoiler:The offices were accidentally separated when the current Apostle was nearly killed along (Micaiah) with her predecessor (her grandmother) and the Apostle's younger sister (Sanaki) was installed as a puppet empress. Micaiah herself would later reign over ''another'' land while Sanaki, who managed to get ''actual'' power with the help of the cast, stayed on the Begnion throne.]]
173	** In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemThreeHouses'', the Church of Seiros is led by Archbishop Rhea, [[spoiler:who turns out to be [[TwoAliasesOneCharacter Seiros herself]].]] [[spoiler: [[PlayerCharacter Byleth]] becomes the new Archbishop at the end of the Silver Snow and Azure Moon routes.]]
174	* Prelate Lucius is the chief cleric in the Otheran army in ''VideoGame/QueenAtArms''. He's a kind man who tends to the wounded soldier and is a potential {{love interest}} for the {{player character}}.
175	* Pontiff Sulyvhan in ''VideoGame/DarkSoulsIII'', who rules over Irithyll and leads the Deep Church, dedicated to worshipping Aldrich. Since Aldrich himself seems content to hang out in his room and occasionally [[ImAHumanitarian eat people (and gods)]] who are sacrificed to him, Sulyvhan is the guy doing most of the actual ruling.
176	* Batari from ''VideoGame/FarCryPrimal'' is the High Priestess of the Izila sun goddess, Suxli, and the tribe's ''de facto'' leader. Born under a solar eclipse, Batari was regarded by her people to be blessed by Suxli. Sadly, this caused her to grow up with [[AGodAmI a god complex]], and she refuses to allow any opposition to her superiority. And Batari's people are practitioners of HumanSacrifice...
177	* ''Franchise/TheElderScrolls''
178	** After defeating the [[AbusivePrecursors Ayleids]] and [[FounderOfTheKingdom founding]] the First Cyrodiilic Empire, St. Alessia upheld her end of the BargainWithHeaven by making the religion of the Eight Divines (which worships the eight [[OurGodsAreDifferent Aedra]] who [[DivineIntervention aided her]] during the Alessian Revolt) into the official religion of her new Empire. This new religion was a compromise between the traditional [[OurElvesAreDifferent Aldmeri]] pantheon (which her Cyrodiilic followers, as slaves to the Ayleids, were accustomed to) and the Nordic Pantheon of her [[HornyVikings Nord]] allies, who refused to accept any "Elven" gods. Thousands of years later, through several Empires, the religion of the Eight (later Nine) Divines continues to serve as a SaintlyChurch to much of Tamriel.
179	** The Dunmeri (Dark Elf) Tribunal Temple was formed to worship the Tribunal, a trio of [[PhysicalGod living flesh and blood]] gods. The Tribunal (Vivec, Almalexia, Sotha Sil) were the formerly mortal advisors to [[FounderOfTheKingdom Lord Nerevar]], the leader of the ancient (then known as Chimer) Dunmer people, who [[DeityOfHumanOrigin obtained godhood]] by tapping into the power of [[CosmicKeystone the Heart]] of a [[GodIsDead "dead" god]]. For thousands of years, the Tribunal lived and worked among their people. However, they still had "Archcanons" responsible for running the more practical business of leading the Temple. A few centuries prior to the events of ''[[VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIIIMorrowind Morrowind]]'', the Tribunal's ancient enemy, Dagoth Ur ([[KingInTheMountain long presumed to be dead]]), returned and ambushed the Tribunal on one of their annual pilgrimages to restore their divinity at the Heart. He managed to capture two of the three tools needed to tap into the Heart, depriving the Tribunal of the ability to recharge. After this, in order to conserve power, the Tribunal was forced to withdraw from the day-to-day affairs of their people. More and more responsibility fell onto the Archcanons and other mortal leaders of the Temple, leading to [[CorruptChurch significant corruption]]. During ''Morrowind'' itself, it is possible for the PlayerCharacter to become the new Archcanon of the Temple.
180	* In ''VideoGame/GenshinImpact'', sages are the highest ranking in the Sumuru Akademiya, with the grand sage presumably being the first among equals. So when Nahida calls the Traveler "the First Sage of Buer", she is declaring them as the Dendro Archon's highest-ranking subordinate. The title is just a formality as the Traveler doesn't actually stay around to take care of her rituals and customs.
181	* ''VideoGame/MinionMasters'': The Master Valorian is the leader of the Chapel of Light
182	[[/folder]]
183
184	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
185	* ''VisualNovel/DaughterForDessert'' gives the likely example of [[spoiler:Smoking Dog in the Church of the Aquarian Revelation]].
186	[[/folder]]
187
188	[[folder:Webcomics]]
189	* In ''Webcomic/ChampionsOfFaraus'', High Priests/Priestesses of deities and/or their respective pantheons run things when the deities aren’t. Since champions of deities take orders from their deities themselves, they seem to generally hold a similar position of authority. Who takes orders from whom seems to depend on which deity & their followers you are looking at, since a deity could easily just tell their champion to do what their high priest says and vice versa. Most champions seem to default to doing what the high priest says if their deity hasn’t given them anything to do in particular though.
190	* ''Webcomic/CharbyTheVampirate'': Malcom serves as the religious leader and authority to the Kellwood tribe of Scotodino while secretly betraying their god for a different goal.
191	* ''Webcomic/LovelyLovecraft'': Atal, as in Literature/TheDreamQuestOfUnknownKadath.
192	* From ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'':
193	** [[TheDragon Redcloak]] is the high priest of the Dark One.
194	** Malack in [[TheEmpire The Empire of Blood]] is the high priest of Nergal.
195	** Each of the [[Myth/NorseMythology Norse-inspired]] Northern Gods has a high priest among the dwarves, with the High Priest of [[TopGod Odin]] leading the group.
196	*** [[spoiler:The vampire possessing Durkon]] is the high priest of Hel, thanks to being the ''only'' priest of Hel.
197	* [[BigBadDuumvirate Angelo]] from ''Webcomic/OurLittleAdventure'' is the high priest of '[[PathOfInspiration Angelo's Kids]]' on account of founding the religion himself. He's also an obscenely powerful user of both [[TheArchmage arcane]] and [[ReligionIsMagic divine]] magic who can direct-dial miracles, so [[AsskickingLeadsToLeadership the shoe fits]].
198	* ''Webcomic/{{Unsounded}}'': Cresce is ruled by the Council of Four made up of a queen, a high general, a high priestess, and a chancellor whose job is to represent the nobles. The High priestess is an elder twin, kept in the traditions of the Grefendur religion.
199	* In ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'' [[ShowWithinAShow Heterodyne shows]] often have a High Priestess as a StockCharacter who serves as Barry's GirlOfTheWeek.
200	[[/folder]]
201
202	[[folder:Western Animation]]
203	* The Fire Sages in ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' seem to be this, only 1) there's a roughly equal group of them and 2) they spend most of their time on an island separate from the rest of their countrymen and 3) it's unclear what the tenets of their faith are supposed to ''be'', anyway, besides supporting the Avatar and crowning the Fire Lord.
204	* In ''WesternAnimation/{{The Brothers Grunt}}'', the Poobah presides over the Grunt Brotherhood's rites and celebrations.
205	* ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'' has the aptly-titled High Priestess of the [[ReligionOfEvil Cult of Aku]].
206	* On ''WesternAnimation/TheAngryBeavers'', the leader of the Girl Raccoons in the episode "[[GodGuise The Mighty Knothead]]."
207	[[/folder]]
208
209	[[folder:Real Life]]
210	* UsefulNotes/ThePope for Catholicism. "Pope" is actually a courtesy title for the Bishop of Rome, who is given primacy over all other Bishops, and therefore runs the Church itself. One of his styles is even ''Pontifex Maximus'', which can be roughly translated as "high priest".
211	* The Eastern Orthodox Patriarchs are nearly the exact analogue of the Pope in UsefulNotes/OrthodoxChristianity, with the significant difference of there being many of them who don't answer to any higher (earthly) authority.
212	** Part of the reason for the similarity between the Eastern Orthodox Patriarchs and the Roman Catholic Pope is that, before the two branches of Christianity split, the Pope was considered one of the Patriarchs. In fact, the Pope still counts Patriarch of Rome as one of his titles. For its part, the Orthodox hierarchy, while disagreeing with the Pope's claim of primacy, still accords him the title of Patriarch of Rome and respects him as leader of the Latin Church, whose rites they accept as valid despite the disagreement on organization.
213	* AncientEgypt often had these; not of the entire 'religion' so much as of specific powerful cult-centers, since a particular god in ascendancy generally only had one location that was at the center of his or her worship. Since it behooved the ruler to be aligned as closely as possible with the most important of the gods and vice-versa, and since Pharaoh was a religious position, High Priest was often a highly government-affiliated job.
214	* Constitutional Monarchs bear some interesting analogies to this, being in charge of ritual-of-state while their ministers actually do the business of ruling. They are not always religious in concept though they might have some religious duties. But the mystical air about them gives room for comparison. One or two monarchs actually were closer to being High Priests than rulers, like the Emperor during the Japanese shogunate period, or the Archon-Basilus in Ancient Athens.
215	* The British monarchy is an interesting example in and of itself, as the reigning monarch is also the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Governor_of_the_Church_of_England Supreme Governor of the Church of England]], though in both the political and spiritual realms most of the actual day-to-day administration is conducted by others.
216	* While there are no real "priests" in Islam, historically the Caliph was something similar to a HighPriest. Because believers were originally led by the prophet Muhammad, his successor was supposed to be the highest civil and religious authority in the Islamic World. Various Muslim rulers have claimed the title over the years, the last such being the Ottoman Sultan. However, even when there was a generally-recognized caliph around, his religious authority was shared by the community of scholars and jurists.
217	* The Imam of Shia Islam is a much straighter example. Much like the High Priesthood in Judaism, the imamate is hereditary, derived from the prophet through his daughter Fatima. Whomever the individual was, he is supposed to be infallible in matters of faith and religion, and to receive direct revelation from God. However, for the majority of Shia Muslims, the office of Imam is not held by a living person, while some believe he is alive, but [[HesJustHiding in hiding]].
218	* Sikh gurus were sort of priest kings.
219	* The emperors of China were the highest priests of the state religion. The emperor's religious duties, which only he could perform, included sacrificing and making a report to Heaven on the state of the Empire in the Temple of Heaven each year, and ceremonially plowing the first furrow for the planting every spring.
220	* Emperor Akbar of the Mughal Dynasty made ''himself'' high priest and prophet of his own religion, Din-e-Ilahi, which syncretized elements of Islam, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, and Christianity. Interestingly enough, he was also the only priest of his religion, which forbade religious hierarchy.
221	* A recurring myth in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance was of the kingdom of Priest John or [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prester_John Prester John]], a Christian monarch said to rule a vast kingdom somewhere in the East. Among others, he was supposedly leading his armies to aid in recapturing Jerusalem, and one account identified UsefulNotes/GenghisKhan as a grandson of Prester John.
222	* In pre-Christian Scandinavia, one of the suites expected of a leader - be it king, jarl, or simple chieftain - was to lead the sacrifices to the gods and arrange religious feasts. This meant some problems for the kings who converted to Christianity, as they would have to take part in the sacrifices unless the people thought they did not do their job. In one famous instance, a Christian Swedish king briefly lost the kingship to a pagan rival because he would perform sacrifices.
223	* AncientRome has a few examples:
224	** Weirdly, the consuls of UsefulNotes/TheRomanRepublic. Even though they were elected politicians--with one-year terms at that--consuls were ''ex officio'' augurs (interpreters of the activities of birds, a major form of divination in Rome) and had authority to set the dates of holidays. They frequently did this to their own political advantage. A fascinating--and darkly comic--example of these powers in practice came in 59 BCE when UsefulNotes/GaiusJuliusCaesar (the famous one) was consul with Marcus Calpurnius Bibulus. Bibulus--who disagreed with Caesar on practically every point and had nursed a personal grudge against him for at least five years by the time they became consuls[[note]]Caesar and Bibulus had served together as aediles in 65 BCE, and Caesar had consistently outshined Bibulus in the main function of the aedileship, organizing festivals and games. Bibulus particularly seems to have thought that Caesar got more credit than he deserved for games that both he and Bibulus had taken part in organizing thanks to Caesar's charisma and PR machine—apparently refusing to recognize that Caesar had fronted most of the money for the games through loans he had personally taken out. (If you’re wondering why anyone would loan Caesar money to organize games, (1) Caesar was one hell of a talker and (2) a successful games set Caesar up to be elected a praetor when he became eligible (at the elections in 64 BCE, for the term to start 1 January 63 BCE), which wasn’t especially remunerative in itself but did make him eligible to be appointed a propraetor afterwards, putting him in a position to seize large amounts of war booty in the likely event of war or rebellion in his province—and if not that then to get ahold of mines and agricultural lands in the province at favorable prices through direct or indirect bribery.[[/note]]--kept trying to use his authority as an augur and proclaimer of holidays to interfere with Caesar's populist political agenda. Caesar, however, had a trump card...
225	** That trump card being that besides being consul, Caesar was ''also'' the Pontifex Maximus, i.e. the chief priest of Rome. Several years earlier, he had been elected to this lifetime post, which was the closest thing the Roman religion of the time had to a high priest.[[note]]Technically he was outranked by the ''rex sacrorum'', or "King of Sacrifices", but (1) the ''rex sacrorum'' had so many interminable ritual duties to please the gods he functionally had no time to actually deal with day-to-day religious administration and (2) guess who picked the ''rex sacrorum''? You get three guesses, and two don't count. (That's right, it was the Pontifex Maximus.)[[/note]] On top of this, Caesar had been raised for the priesthood and had been ''Flamen Dialis'' (chief priest of the cult of Jupiter)[[note]]Ceremonially and spiritually very important, but actually kind of an albatross for an ambitious Roman, as ''de facto'' a ''Flamen'' could not have a political career. It was ultimately to Caesar's benefit that he was stripped of his priesthood.[[/note]] for two years (admittedly he was only about 18 at the time, but he seems to have done the job correctly). Thus at every turn Caesar [[MyRuleFuIsStrongerThanYours used this superior religious knowledge to overturn Bibulus's readings of the birds and proclamations of holidays]]. Since Caesar was both popular and (thanks to his long history of religious office) seen as having superior knowledge of the ways of the gods, Bibulus' attempts to thwart Caesar with religion were completely ineffectual. Bibulus was also massively humiliated by being so unpopular that his end-of-term speech got vetoed by a Tribune of the Plebs. That wasn't a good year for him.
226	[[/folder]]
227

Context Main / HighPriest