The Mysteries were institutions erected for the transmutation of base ignorance into precious illumination. The dragon of ignorance was the terrible creature set to guard the Golden Fleece, and represents the darkness of the old year, which battles with the Sun at the time of its equinoctial passage. Adult rams live in bands, which seldom associate with ewe groups except during the winter mating season. The horn clashing for which rams are so well known does not result from fights over possession of ewes, but rather is a means of establishing a social hierarchy. These clashes occur throughout the year but are more frequent just before the rut, when rams are moving among the ewes and meeting unfamiliar rams of similar horn size.
Rams battle to determine the dominant animal, which then gains possession of the ewes.
Facing each other rams charge head-on from distances of 20 feet or more, crashing their massive horns together with tremendous impact, until one or the other ceases. Sheep live in separate ram and ewe bands most of the year. Gestation lasts about 6 months, and the lambs are usually born in late winter. Mountain sheep are extremely susceptible to disease introduced by domestic livestock, mass die-offs from disease can occur. Good peripheral and depth vision allows sheep to move over mountainsides without falling, and to maintain all-round surveillance of the area.