The Nika Riots serve as a microcosm of every society. In Constantinople at the time (532 AD), people were organized into demes which were divisions of society that were organized around chariot racing teams. The teams had colors: Reds, Greens, Blues, and Whites which the supporters would wear to demonstrate their loyalty and membership. The demes were also supported by aristocratic patrons, which seems to be a common mode of organization (cf Roman Patronage)in the ancient world (and even today).
It's not very hard to imagine that the ancient priesthoods could be integrated into this type of societal structure, where one or more of the pantheon of gods would be the chief deity of the deme. In the Christian era of Byzantium, some subset of the Christian branded pantheon of gods could serve the same purpose.
The beliefs, and the mythological stories that seem to express those beliefs serve as a sort of glue to bind these factions together.
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