A ram is a male sheep of breeding age, usually older than seven months. In some locales, male sheep are known as Tups. Over 200 breeds of sheep exist, all the result of selective breeding for various qualities, such as wool length and thickness.
History
Unlike antlers, which are shed every year, horns are with an animal for life. A ram’s horns will continue to grow unless broken, and they are made of similar material to finger nails. In several cultures, ram horns are highly symbolic. The Hebrew word for trumpet in the Old Testament of the Bible is shofar, which refers to a ram’s horn trumpet. The shofar was one of man’s earliest wind instruments, and the blowing of the ram’s horn heralded important events. In the Old Testament story of the conquest of Jericho, ram’s horns were blown on the fateful day that the city’s walls crumbled. They were also used for celebrations and announcements.