This shows that Poe was alluding to Greek mythology when he used Irene in the poem. The reason she is used for the ritual is that for the wizard to use the power of the heavens he had to sacrifice one of the watchers of the gates. This is Poe’s little twist to the lore of virus lunare because instead of just having to give a life he made it out that someone had to give a watcher’s life. It creates insight on the fact that this is the ending of peace in late spring and the beginning for great turmoil and unrest in the lands. In Greek mythology, spring is represented with growth and prosperity while winter is stagnation and
