Omega

Omega: last letter of the Greek alphabet. This chapter begins at the end of the alphabet and therefore the circular structure of FW is invoked (O is also a circle).

Jesus said he was the "Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." (Revelation 22:13, KJV).

The beginning of this chapter is also in the shape of a delta: ∆ (a triangle). Delta is the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet. It is also the name given to the triangular shaped mouth of a river ie. the Nile Delta. The Delta represents Anna Livia's fertile uterus, from which all life flows. The opening letter 'O' could therefore be an egg representing the beginning of life (and as Omega paradoxically the end-as-beginning). The 'O' could also double as zero.

Prayers often begin with 'Oh...'

'Eau' is also French for 'water'.

In 'Ulysses' Bloom notices the triangular logo on a bottle of Bass beer and is reminded of Molly.

"O what a name Id go and drown myself in the first river if I had a name like her O" Ulysses, (Penelope): Molly on a lady called "Opisso" (which incidently means "backwards" in ancient Greek [I mention this, because I believe that Joyceans - very contrarily to Lot's wife or Eurydike's husband - should never be afraid to look back when reading] and might remind of another word signifying some liquid if you drop the O's).

"O" is also the first letter in 'A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man', which begins "Once upon a time and a very good time it was there was a moocow..." The letter is featured prominently through the first few pages of the novel, as in the few lines from the songs that Stephen hears: "O, the wild rose blossoms/ On the little green place./ He sang that song. That was his song./ O, the green wothe botheth."