Moffat's wonderful ram with unusual anatomy (7 photos)

In the town of Moffat, Scotland, there is a large bronze statue of an anatomically abnormal ram. The horned ram proudly overlooks the central market square from its vantage point atop a sandstone fountain.





Local legends say that the ram is haunted by more ghosts than it should have ears, which probably makes it the only ghostly, earless ram sculpture in the world.



The monumental bronze ram sculpture and drinking fountain was commissioned in 1875 by local resident William Colvin as a gift to his home town in memory of its long association with sheep farming and the wool trade. The artist chosen for the work was the well-known, celebrated and prolific Victorian Scottish sculptor William Brodie, whose most famous work is the statue of the faithful dog Bobby in Edinburgh.





According to legend, when the statue was unveiled, a local farmer exclaimed, "It has no ears!" He was right. The otherwise perfect sculpture is completely missing ears. According to legend, sculptor Brody was so embarrassed by his oversight that he returned to his hotel room, which was within sight of the new sculpture, and committed suicide.



According to legend, he still roams the hotel corridors to this day, perhaps searching for the ears, trying to right his wrong. Fortunately for Brodie, and unfortunately for ghost story lovers, this popular myth has no basis in fact, as Brodie died at home in Edinburgh only six years after the monument was unveiled.



Another alleged spirit living near the statue is actually the customer Colvin, who is accused of making the fountain make strange tapping sounds.



If you put aside the implausible legends, the statue of a ram, whose lack of ears has become a highlight, is an instantly recognizable symbol of the city. And also real evidence of its connection with the wool trade and a bright legacy of a famous sculptor.