[namaria]

Are there any documented examples of societies where "magics", "shamans" or "wizards" were at the top of the hierarchy? I gotta say, I'm an avid reader of Ancient History and Anthropology and the closest I can think of is the Priest-Kings of Sumeria and your garden variety theocracy and the latter is much more of a priestly bureeacracy than anything else...

[dgb23]

Perhaps not at the top in terms of day to day decision making and wealth, but the first that came to mind would be celtic druids and bards.

[namaria]

I'd love to know more, can you point me to some sources?

[dgb23]

I'm sorry it's just a vague intuition from watching a lot of documentaries about the Celts and very light internet research.

But generally speaking Druids had an oral tradition of maintaining knowledge in Celtic society. They had inter-tribe gatherings and went through long and difficult training.

Specifically also law. So they had at least the power of judges and to some degree law makers.

Perhaps you can find out more with some of these keywords.