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Why was there no separate priestly class in ancient Greece?

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Painting by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo showing crowds pulling the large wooden Trojan Horse into the city of Troy, with excited figures and ancient buildings in the background. — Greek mythology Oil on canvas by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo, c. 1760; in the National Gallery, London.

In ancient Greece, there was no separate priestly class or official clergy because the religious and secular spheres of life were not sharply divided.12

Rather than forming a distinct caste set apart from society, individuals who performed priestly duties were often indistinguishable from lay members of the community. In many cases, priesthoods were ancestral prerogatives held by specific families, and it was common for civic officials, such as magistrates, to also serve as priests.31

Because Greek religion lacked a centralized hierarchy or sacred books, the primary role of a priest was simply to look after a specific cult, temple, or shrine. Their duties were generally viewed as an extension of household or civic responsibilities rather than as a specialized, consecrated order. Consequently, priests were not regarded as essential mediators between the gods and humanity, though they did provide professional assistance during sacrifice and other ritual acts.123