Another word would be ideals. That these gods represented ideals.

The logical fallacy of monotheism is to claim the one god as absolute. An "All-knowing absolute," in the words of Pope John Paul 2.

The problem is the universal is the elemental, so a spiritual absolute would be the essence of sentience, from which life rises, not an ideal of wisdom and judgement, from which it fell. More the light shining through and animating the film, than the narratives playing out on it.

As you point out, the politics was the basis of the religion. Ancient Israel was a monarchy. The Big Guy Rules. Like the religion.

Democracy and republicanism originated in pantheistic cultures.

Rome adopted Christian monotheism as the Empire was rising from the ashes of the Republic.

Providing the eschatological basis for European monarchy. When the West went back to democracy and republicanism, it required separation of church and state, culture and civics.

Some further thoughts;

https://medium.com/@johnbrodixmerrymanjr/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-western-mind-906dc73cffe2