The Serpent and the Ram's Horns

A great Serpent was the king of the river. One day, a proud Ram with magnificent, curved horns came to the river to drink. The Serpent, who was vain, became jealous of the Ram's horns. "Your horns are an affront to my majesty," the Serpent hissed. "Nothing in my kingdom should be more splendid than I am." The Serpent demanded that the Ram break off his horns. The Ram refused. "These horns were given to me by my ancestors. They are my strength and my pride." The Serpent, enraged, attacked the Ram. They fought a great battle at the river's edge. The Ram was strong on land, but the Serpent was powerful in the water. The Ram would charge, but the Serpent would retreat into the river. The Serpent would lunge, but the Ram would catch him on his horns and throw him back. The battle lasted for days. Finally, Mawu (the supreme being in Fon/Ewe cosmology) saw the endless, pointless conflict. Mawu declared, "Because of your vanity, Serpent, you will have no horns at all. And because of your pride, Ram, you will always be afraid of the water where the Serpent lives." And so, snakes have no horns, and sheep are often hesitant and fearful when they come to the river to drink, always watching for the ancient enemy they once fought.