Charles Ellicott Commentary Daniel 8:3

"Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last." — Daniel 8:3 (ASV)

A ram — that is, a single ram. The ram was standing before the river, or eastward of it, and represented the Medo-Persian empire (Daniel 8:20). The two horns, like the two breasts and arms of the image, or the two sides of the bear, symbolize the twofold character of this empire. The higher horn denotes the Persians, the dominant race. For other instances of rams and goats representing nations, compare Isaiah 14:9; Jeremiah 1:8; Zechariah 10:3.