What differentiates the Valar from the Maiar?

[Belegorn]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

I have recently been delving into greek mythology again, so the first real world example that came to my mind was the division between the twelve Olympian gods and the rest of the gods.

I'm not really sure it's quite the same, although they are lesser. Like there is Hebe who serves the Olympians for example, but it seems for the most part they all do their own thing. The Fates, not even Zeus is above, and remember they had to overthrow their parents and their brethren, the Titans who were the first gods, after Cronus castrated his own father Ouranos before that. There is one real similarity with Poseiden and the gods of all the various waters, the rivers, streams, etc., who are under him. And Zeus is the father of the Gods and Men. Some of the Olympians like Apollo and Ares are his children, not so with the Valar. Hercules ascended to godhood was once a man.